Parental Separation and Death During Childhood as Predictors of Adult Psychopathology: An Examination of Racial Differences

Clinical Impact Statement Parental separation was a significant risk factor for adult psychopathology, but only for White participants. Parental death was not a risk factor for adult psychopathology no matter the person's race. These results highlight the need for early intervention and identification of children whose parents are getting a divorce, especially since the rates of divorce are high in the United States. Lastly, these results provide evidence that African American children appear to be resilient following parental divorce or parental separation. Objective: Parental separation and parental death during childhood are common but understudied forms of adverse childhood events (ACEs), thus little is known about the impact on psychological functioning in adulthood. We examined whether parental death and parental separation during childhood was associated with risk of diagnostic criteria for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or personality disorders during adulthood. Second, we compared parental separation and parental death and psychopathology across African Americans (N = 499) and Whites (N = 782). Method: The sample consists of 1,211 participants (n = 669 females). Diagnostic interviews were administered by master's or doctorate-level degree holders in Clinical Psychology or Social Work. There was good to excellent interrater reliabilities (mean kappa of .84 +/- .05; range: .79-.93) spanning anxiety, mood, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders. Results: White participants reporting parental separation during childhood were more likely to report depressive disorders (OR = 2.151, p < .001), PTSD (OR = 2.218, p < .01) and personality disorders (OR = 1.764, p < .001) during adulthood. African American endorsement of parental separation during childhood did not predict depressive disorders (OR = 1.21, p = .357), anxiety disorders (OR = 1.107, p = .659), PTSD (OR = 1.351, p = .425) or personality disorders (OR = 1.432, p = .098) during adulthood. Overall, participants who reported parental death did not have significantly higher rates of depressive disorders (OR = 1.100, p = .668), anxiety disorders (OR = 1.357, p = .207), PTSD (OR = 1.351, p = .425), and personality disorders (OR = 1.432, p = .098). Conclusions: Parental separation was a significant risk factor for adult psychopathology, but only for White participants. Parental death was not a risk factor for adult psychopathology no matter the person's race.

Automated summary

Parental separation is a significant risk factor for psychopathology in White adults, while parental death is not a risk factor regardless of race. Early intervention and identification of children whose parents are getting a divorce are needed, especially considering the high divorce rates in the United States. African American children appear to be resilient following parental divorce or separation.