Childhood parental death and depression in adulthood: roles of surviving parent and family environment.

Among adults who experienced a childhood parental death, measures of depression were influenced by interactions with the surviving parent and by the nature of the family environment after the death. Individuals describing their surviving parent as empathic and warm, and as promoting autonomy, were less likely to report depressive experiences than were others. Less opportunity for participating in the mourning process was also associated with greater risk for depression.