The death of a parent is a very significant event in a person's life. A great deal of emphasis is placed on the effects of parental death on children and young adults. However, the majority of people will most likely experience the death of a parent during the period of middle adulthood. "Only 1 in 10 children has lost a parent by age 25 but by age 54, 50 percent of children have lost both parents, and by age 62, 75 percent have lost both parents." (Winsborough, Bumpass, & Aquilino,1991, p.39 ).
The loss of a parent during adulthood is a "life changing developmental event." (Jordan & Ware, 1991, p. 362). Parents help us form an identity and become a unique and individual person. Berlinsky & Biller (1982), describe parents as the "givers of lives, our nurturers, guides, and the constructors of our initial realities." .
Many adult children must adjust their amount of involvement within the family due to the death of a parent. Adult children begin to take on responsibilities of the family and assume leadership. This is sometimes referred to as being the "head" of the family. With the passing away of a parent, adult children begin to see things in a new light and become much more mature and self-reliant. Scharlach and Fredriksen (1993), report after the loss of a parent, there are noticeable changes in, "one's sense of maturity, personal priorities, personal freedom and responsibility." (p.307). .
The initial shock of losing a parent is very traumatic to one's well being. Scharlach and Fredriksen (1993), describe how the death of a parent has a great impact on the mental health of the adult child experiencing grief. People become filled with many emotions such as, anxiety, anger, sadness, numbness, denial, and guilt. It is hard for adult children to feel comfortable expressing these emotions because society treats the effects of parental loss on adults very lightly. Adult children may feel as if they must hold back their grief.
