A1 Journal article (refereed)
Dark Passage : Mental Health Consequences of Parental Death (2023)

Böckerman, P., Haapanen, M., & Jepsen, C. (2023). Dark Passage : Mental Health Consequences of Parental Death. American Journal of Health Economics, 9(4), 584-604. https://doi.org/10.1086/723598

JYU authors or editors

Böckerman, Petri
Haapanen, Mika

Publication details

All authors or editors: Böckerman, Petri; Haapanen, Mika; Jepsen, Christopher

Journal or series: American Journal of Health Economics

ISSN: 2332-3493

eISSN: 2332-3507

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 11/10/2023

Volume: 9

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 584-604

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/723598

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/92540

Abstract

We study the effects of parental death on children’s mental health. Combining nationwide administrative data for Finnish citizens born between 1971 and 1986, we utilize an event study methodology to analyze hospitalization for mental health–related reasons by the age of 30. We find no clear evidence of increased hospitalization following the death of a parent of a different sex, but there are significant effects for boys losing their fathers and, to a lesser extent, girls losing their mothers. We analyze the effects in a country that has committed substantial financial resources to implement school health care for all pupils. In countries where such policies do not exist or where the coverage of primary health-care services in schools is not universal, the negative effects on mental health may arguably be even larger.

Keywords: death; parents; children (family members); mental health; mental disorders; psychiatric care; hospital care