Poor Psychosocial Well-Being in the First Year-and-a-Half After Losing a Parent to Cancer–A Longitudinal Study Among Young Adults Participating in Support Groups

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in psychosocial well-being over time among young adults who participated in a support group after the death of a parent from cancer. Fifty-five young adults, aged 16–28 years, completed questionnaires that measured self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction at three time-points during the first year-and-one-half after the loss. Results indicated overall poor psychosocial well-being with few increases in psychological health over the study period, despite access to support and social networks. However, these resources may help to prevent major impairments in the participants’ future lives.