The National Archive of Grief Support Studies
The National Archive of Grief Support Studies(NAGSS) database provides bibliographical information and summaries of recent articles selected for their relevance to grief and bereavement service providers. The articles that are summarized are selected from scholarly, peer-reviewed journals and are intended to highlight key concepts as well as provide a brief statement of implications for service providers. Bibliographical information may be used to obtain the original article.
Parentally Bereaved Children’s Grief: Self-system Beliefs as Mediators of the Relations Between Grief and Stressors and Caregiver-Child Relationship Quality
Authors:
Wolchik, Sharlene A.
Ma, Yue
Tein, Jenn-Yun
Sandler, Irwin N.
Ayers, Tim S.
Source:
Death Studies: 2008. Volume 32, pp. 597-620.
Summary
This article describes a study that analyzed the impact on grief of the beliefs of bereaved children regarding fear of abandonment, coping efficacy, and self-esteem. The researchers also examined the children’s stressors and caregiver-child relationship quality. The authors concluded that strong caregiver-child relationships promote children’s belief in their own coping skills, enabling them to deal more effectively with stressors and with grief. The researchers suggest that intervention programs for bereaved children should target the quality of the child-caregiver relationship. In addition, efforts to reduce the children’s exposure to stressors may reduce grief levels and improve the sense of coping efficacy.
Key words: child, parent, stress
Service Provider Implications
Findings from this study indicate that service providers can help bereaved children by targeting the quality of the child-caregiver relationship and promoting the child’s coping efficacy beliefs. Service providers should also be aware that a child’s exposure to stressors and fears of abandonment also play a role in the levels of distress experienced.
