One out of every 20 children aged fifteen and younger will suffer the loss of one or both parents. These statistics don’t account for the number of children who lose a “parental figure,” such as a grandparent or other relative that provides care (Owens, D. 2008).
1.5 million children are living in a single-parent household because of the death of one parent (Owens, D. 2008).
Reviews of studies from various countries on childhood bereavement following parental death report that children in this situation do experience a wide range of emotional and behavioral symptoms. The child often experiences an increase in anxiety with a focus on concerns about further loss, the safety of other family members, and fears around separation (Haine et al., 2008).