Early parental loss, recent life events, and changes in health among older adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to see whether older adults who lost a parent early in life are more vulnerable to the effects of recent stressful events than elderly people who were raised in an intact home. Data from a nationwide longitudinal survey of older adults provide support for this view. The findings indicate that the combined effects of early parental loss and recent stressful events are associated with a decline over time in global self-rated health, as well as the number of chronic and acute conditions. In contrast, significant effects failed to emerge with functional disability. This study contributes to the literature by suggesting that only certain kinds of recent events (i.e., stressors arising in highly valued roles) act in concert with early parental loss to compromise health in late life.