Understanding how bereavement affects children's mental health over time
Official title: A multidimensional approach to assessing six-year trajectories of outcomes of bereaved children, the effects of the FBP to modify trajectories and mediation of effects 15 years later
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-10754970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how losing a parent affects kids' mental health and development over time, and it also checks if a special support program can help them cope better as they grow up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tempe, United States) |
| Project start | December 16, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $196,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21MH127288-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10754970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents who have experienced the death of a parent.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced parental bereavement may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the long-term effects of parental death on children's mental health and developmental outcomes. By analyzing data from a 15-year longitudinal study, the project aims to identify how bereaved children experience various mental health challenges and competencies over a six-year period. It also examines the impact of the Family Bereavement Program in modifying these outcomes and how these changes may influence mental health in young adulthood. The study uses a multidimensional approach to better understand the different trajectories of mental health issues among bereaved children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions for bereaved children, enhancing their mental health and developmental outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using similar multidimensional approaches has shown that many individuals experience varying levels of resilience and challenges following bereavement, indicating the potential for meaningful insights from this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Tempe, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sandler, Irwin N. — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Sandler, Irwin N.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.