Impact of Parental Loss on Children's Risk of Bullying

Losing a parent or primary caregiver is an intensely traumatic experience for any individual, and when it happens during childhood, it can significantly influence a child's development, mental health, and social interactions throughout their life. Recent research highlights that children who experience the death of a parent are at an increased risk of becoming victims of school bullying.

A comprehensive study conducted by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and published in the Journal of Affective Disorders analyzed data from over 21,000 children in China between 2019 and 2021. The findings revealed that children who suffered parental loss were more likely to face bullying, with the risk varying based on factors such as the child's sex, age, and whether the deceased parent was the mother or father. Specifically, girls, older children (ages 13–17), and those living in rural areas demonstrated a higher susceptibility to bullying following parental death.

The study noted that maternal death particularly increased the risk of bullying among boys, suggesting that maternal support might offer a protective effect for sons. Dr. Ziming Xuan, the study's senior author, emphasized that childhood parental loss is a major trauma that can lead to adverse outcomes, including victimization at school.

The research involved analyzing data from the Mental Health Survey for Children and Adolescents, which assesses the mental health of children aged 10–17 in southwestern China. During the study period, nearly 3% of participants had experienced parental death, and over 15% reported being bullied at school. Although most parental deaths occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic, it is estimated that around eight million children worldwide lost a parent or primary caregiver due to the pandemic, and over four percent of children in the United States also experienced the loss of a parent by 2021.

Experts suggest that support interventions should be comprehensive, addressing emotional and social needs to help bereaved children navigate their grief and reduce the risk of bullying. Such measures include personalized counseling, engaging remaining caregivers or relatives, and school programs tailored to the child's developmental and cultural context. Importantly, these support strategies should adapt over time to meet changing needs, with educators trained to recognize signs of grief and foster empathetic, inclusive environments in schools, which can be crucial in promoting resilience.

The researchers involved in this study, including Hailiang Ran and Dr. Jin Lu from Kunming Medical University, aim to inform policies and programs that better support children grieving their parents, ultimately mitigating the increased risk of bullying and promoting healthier psychosocial development.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-parent-children-bullied.html