Bo's Place - Where Children are Heard and Hearts are Healed

How They Died, Time Since Loss, and Bereavement Outcomes

Authors:
Feigelman, W.
Jordan, J. R.
Gorman, B. S.

Source:
Omega: 2008-2009, 58(4), pp. 251-273.

Summary

This article summarizes a study designed to investigate differences in bereavement outcomes among parents who had experienced the death of a child to suicide, to other traumatic causes, or to natural causes. In addition, the study sought to identify variables that influenced the bereavement outcomes of the parents who survived the suicide of a child. The researchers administered a variety of questionnaires to 540 parents via the Internet. Overall the findings were mixed, with suicide survivors showing greater grief difficulties and mental health problems on some measures, but not on others. Parents who had a child make multiple suicide attempts, or who reported negative or uncertain relationships, did have significantly greater grief difficulties than other parents. The results of the study also indicated that for all death circumstances, the level of grief distress decreased over time. In suicide cases, the level of bereavement distress was rather constant over the first 4 years, followed by a decline that continued for many years.

Keywords: parent, child, suicide

Service Provider Implications

Service providers may benefit from knowing that parents who have experienced the suicide of a child may have greater difficulty with grief and mental health problems, especially if their child had made multiple suicide attempts, or if the relationship was troubled.