Losing a parent during childhood: The impact on adult romantic relationships

The disruption of the parent–child attachment bond due to parental death (PD) may lead to lingering feelings of unsafety or insecurity that might potentially transfer to adult intimate relationships. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether experiencing childhood parental death (CPD) was associated with adult romantic relationship formation and stability, attachment style, and relationship satisfaction, and whether this is dependent on (in)secure parental bonding. In this cross-sectional study, relationship indicators were assessed using self-report questionnaires in adults (25–45 years old) who experienced PD during childhood (n = 236), in adulthood (n = 301), and who did not experience PD (n = 278).