Child Death in the United States: Productivity and the Economic Burden of Parental Grief

Melanie Fox, Joanne Cacciatore, Jeffrey R. Lacasse

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    22 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    This article examines the economic consequences associated with the death of a child. The economic costs (funeral and medical expenses and productivity losses) of child death 6 months following the death were estimated based on 213 parents who had experienced the death of a child (usually unexpectedly and predominantly mothers). Findings suggest that productivity losses associated with child death comprise most of the costs and that the economic effects are substantial. Costs associated with on-the-job productivity losses ("presenteeism") outweigh the costs associated with absenteeism. To date, no research has empirically measured both absenteeism and presenteeism following bereavement.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)597-602
    Number of pages6
    JournalDeath Studies
    Volume38
    Issue number9
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Oct 2014

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Developmental and Educational Psychology
    • Clinical Psychology
    • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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