How can adult children help?

When parents grieve

02/20/2026

Coping with grief is complex. A new study based on data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) examines how adult children can best support their parents during this phase.

Alina Schmitz, Lisa Jessee and colleagues investigated how contact frequency, practical help and physical proximity affect depressive symptoms in widowed women and men.

The most important findings:
Weekly contact (phone calls, visits) proved to be an effective protective factor for mental health.
Practical help (e.g. help in the household) was associated with stronger depressive symptoms. This suggests that help that limits independence can sometimes be stressful.
Living nearby (within 25 km) had a more positive effect than living directly in the same household.
No gender differences: fathers and mothers benefit equally from support from their adult children.

Source: Jessee et al. (2025). Journal of Research on Aging. DOI: 10.1177/01640275251404880

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