Little is known about the experiences of widowed men with dependent children. With such limited knowledge it is not clear how mental health professionals can assist this population. In this qualitative case study the researcher describes the experiences of ten widowed fathers from the Southeastern United States as they struggle with their new parenting responsibilities after the death of their wives and their children's mothers. The researcher used an inductive constant comparative method to reveal themes. The interview data revealed three themes: Ways to Cope, Concerns, and Newfound Respect. These themes and their subcategories are presented together with suggestions on how to assist widowers with dependent children.
Objective: This study examined the efficacy of a short-term, camp-based, trauma-focused grief intervention in reducing traumatic grief and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in parentally bereaved children. Method: For this nonequivalent comparison group study, 100 children were split into two groups, with one group serving as the immediate treatment group and the second group serving as the delayed treatment group. Results: The results were analyzed using chi-square, independent samples t tests, multiple and logistic regression and showed this short-term intervention to be followed by reduced traumatic grief and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Conclusions: The results are discussed in relation to current research on and practice with bereaved children as well as implications for future research.
Human services professionals will undoubtedly work with the dying and bereaved populations at one time or other. Yet, they are poorly prepared to do so since death education, that is, lessons about the human and emotional aspects of death, its implications, and subsequent bereavement issues, is often not part of their curriculum. This nonequivalent comparison group study (N = 86) examined death fear and death anxiety among human services students before and after receiving death education using the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in death anxiety among the group of students who participated in death education compared to those who did not.
Although a fair amount has been written about posttraumatic stress disorder among bereaved children and adolescents, less has been written about posttraumatic growth (PTG) and its predictors among this population. This study examines predictors of PTG and the impact of trauma-informed care on PTG among bereaved youth. A preexperimental, pretest–posttest design was applied to measure PTG among bereaved children ( N = 32) before and after attending a healing camp that provides trauma-informed care. A regression model was applied to examine predictors of PTG. Results showed that children participating in the camp increased their PTG scores to a statistically significant degree. Circumstance of death (sudden or expected) was a predictor in this study. The results are discussed in relation to limitations, implications for future research, and practice.
This qualitative study is the follow-up to a quantitative controlled study which showed a decrease in childhood traumatic grief and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in parentally bereaved children participating in a bereavement camp. The purpose of this study was to identify the healing components of this camp model. Semi-structured interviews with 19 children and 13 parents/guardians were conducted 3 to 9 months after participation in the bereavement camp. Therapeutic Interventions and Traditional Camp Activities emerged as themes. The themes are discussed in relation to previous research as are limitations of the study and the implications for theory, practice, and future research.
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