The impact of parental loss on adolescents' psychosocial characteristics.

This study examined ten measures of personality, self-image, and emotional and family problems in a sample of 2,158 Australian adolescents, some of whom had suffered parental loss. The data reveal a pattern of poorer adjustment in adolescents who have lost a parent, but clearly demonstrate that type of loss and family reconstitution have no differential effects on psychosocial development. Implications for future research are discussed.