Children Who Lose a Parent Face Higher Risk of Bullying, Study Finds

Children who lose a parent face not only profound grief, but also a significantly higher risk of being bullied at school, according to new research led by the Boston University School of Public Health. The findings suggest that parental bereavement can shape children’s social experiences for years after a loss occurs.

The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, analyzed data from more than 21,000 children and adolescents in southwestern China. Researchers found that students who had experienced the death of a parent were considerably more likely to report being bullied than peers who had not experienced such a loss.

Which children appeared most vulnerable?

The relationship between parental death and bullying differed depending on several factors, including the child’s sex, which parent died, the age at which the loss occurred, and whether the child lived in a rural or urban area.

Adolescent girls, teenagers aged 13 to 17, and children living in rural areas appeared to face particularly elevated risks of bullying after losing a parent.

Researchers also found that maternal death seemed especially significant for boys. Male students who had lost their mother were more likely to experience bullying, suggesting that maternal support may play an especially protective role in helping boys navigate peer relationships and school life.

Overall, nearly 3 percent of participants in the survey had lost at least one parent, while more than 15 percent reported being bullied at school. Most parental deaths in the study occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The wider impact of childhood bereavement

Although the research focused on China, the authors emphasized that childhood bereavement is a growing global concern.

Previous estimates suggest that around 8 million children worldwide lost a parent or primary caregiver due to COVID-19-related causes and broader pandemic impacts. In the United States alone, federal data indicated that by 2021, more than 4 percent of children under 18 had experienced the death of at least one parent.

Experts warn that parental loss can affect nearly every aspect of a child’s development, including mental health, academic performance, emotional regulation, social relationships, and long-term economic stability.

Parental support plays a major role in shaping a child’s sense of security, self-esteem, and ability to cope with stress. When a parent dies, those protective factors can weaken, potentially leaving children more vulnerable to isolation, stigma, emotional difficulties, and peer victimization.

Why schools may play a critical role

Senior author Dr. Ziming Xuan, professor of community health sciences at Boston University, described parental death during childhood as a major traumatic event associated with multiple adverse outcomes, including bullying victimization.

The researchers argue that schools and healthcare systems need better strategies to identify and support bereaved students over the long term.

Recommended approaches include individual counseling, support for surviving caregivers and extended family members, and school-based programs tailored to children’s developmental and cultural needs.

Within schools, teachers and staff may also need additional training to recognize signs of grief, emotional distress, and social vulnerability. The authors suggest that creating a warmer and more inclusive school environment could help reduce bullying and strengthen resilience among grieving children.

Because grief can evolve over time, experts emphasize that support should not be limited to an immediate response after a death. Ongoing emotional support, peer programs, and collaboration between educators, families, and mental health professionals may be essential for protecting bereaved children from further harm.

Future directions for research

The study used data from the Mental Health Survey for Children and Adolescents, an ongoing research project in Yunnan Province conducted by Kunming Medical University in collaboration with Boston University.

Researchers plan to continue exploring how childhood bereavement interacts with mental health, family relationships, and school environments over time.

Future studies may also investigate why certain groups — such as rural adolescents and girls — appear especially vulnerable to bullying after parental loss. The authors suggest that understanding local cultural norms, family structures, and access to community support could help improve interventions for grieving children.

Ultimately, the researchers argue that parental bereavement should be viewed not only as a private family tragedy, but also as a major public health issue. They say that integrating grief-sensitive support into schools and healthcare systems could help reduce secondary harms such as bullying and improve long-term outcomes for millions of children worldwide.