Anne Houston: Called for a national strategy

A report published on Wednesday by the charity said there was a significant connection.

One in 20 of all children who called the helpline because of abuse or neglect added that they had also suffered a bereavement.

The report said many young people believed their ill-treatment was related to the surviving parent's inability to cope.

Frequently the child's father or mother had been drinking heavily since their partner died, the report said.

In some instances, the death of a carer had removed the child's protector - which was usually the mother - and the abuser had seized an opportunity that had not previously existed.

'Additional factor'

About a fifth of those wanting to discuss bereavement talked about the death of a parent and a fifth also said that they had been affected by the violent death of a relative.

Anne Houston, director of ChildLine Scotland, said: "Obviously bereavement puts huge stress on families.

"We know that physical abuse is more likely to happen in a family under a great deal of pressure that would be caused by the death of a loved one.

"With sexual abuse if it is the mother that has died then it could be the case that the father will look to a child for physical comfort, and that turns into abuse.

"We also have to recognise that abuse has been present before the bereavement in many cases, but the death has acted as an additional factor."

She called for a national strategy to provide services for bereaved children and their parents and carers.