据美国医学会旗下的《美国医学会儿科学杂志》发表的一项研究通过建模估计，近40000名美国儿童因新冠疫情，至少失去了一位父母。报告作者指出，这一数据令人“震惊”，并表示父母骤然离世可能会给孩子带来极其严重的创伤。
A new model suggests nearly 40,000 children have lost a parent to COVID-19. The estimates published this week in the journal JAMA Pediatrics show "staggering" numbers of bereaved children, which could have "devastating" consequences.
不过，作者也指出，该数据基于建模，而非调研或官方数据。The authors noted that the estimates rely on modeling, not survey or administrative data.该研究由纽约州立大学石溪分校的Rachel Kidman等人主导。研究团队估计，如果以不作为策略应对新冠疫情，那么失去父母的儿童数量或将达到116900人。
The authors, led by Rachel Kidman of the Program in Public Health at Stony Brook University estimated that 43,000 children have lost a parent and “looking at a natural herd immunity strategy which resulted in 1.5 million deaths "demonstrates the potential effect of inaction: 116,900 parentally bereaved children."在疫情隔离期间，失去父母还可能让孩子失去生存层面的依靠。Moreover, the authors noted that COVID-19 losses occurring at a time of social isolation, institutional strain, and economic hardship could potentially leave bereaved children without the supports they need.匹兹堡大学一团队于2018年发表的一项研究表明，失去父母的儿童患上抑郁症或创伤后精神紧张性障碍的机率更高，且萌生自杀念头的机率也更高。A study published in 2018 from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that there was increased incidence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in those who had lost a parent. They also found increased rates of clinically significant suicidal ideation in children who had lost parents.