Bereaved Parents: Particular Difficulties, Unique Factors, and Treatment Issues

Abstract

Little has been written on the topic of parental reactions to the loss of a child, despite the fact that there are unique psychological and sociological factors that make parental bereavement difficult to resolve. This article discusses factors involved in parental bereavement, including the unnaturalness of the child predeceasing the parents, social reactions to the death of a child, the loss of the spouse as a primary support during the grieving process, and grief-related problems with surviving children. Treatment recommendations are also presented.

Of the Soul and Suffering: Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Bereavement

“…Child loss is anecdotally and empirically recognized as an extremely challenging bereavement experience for families as well as clinicians (Callahan and Dittloff 2007;Kaunonen et al 2000;Rando 1985;Sanders 1979Sanders -1980. Time alone does not seem to heal grieving parents, and what happens in the aftermath of a child's death with regard to clinical and social support, familial communication, and an ability to express emotions has an impact.…”

“…Parents who have experienced the child death are a unique population in many ways. The death of a child is out of order, untimely, and traumatic, even when the child's death is expected, as in terminal illness or congenital anomalies (Barr andCacciatore 2007-2008;Cacciatore and Flint 2012;Rando 1985). Yet, because of its present moment orientation, focus on approaching rather than avoiding painful affective states, and ability to help increase tolerance for fluctuating feelings and thoughts, MBIs may be especially beneficial both for these families.…”

Stillbirth and the Couple: A Gender-Based Exploration

“…They also shared many similar experiences such as the desire to achieve familial equilibrium and their struggle around role identity in the aftermath of loss. Rando (1985) identified ''unique factors of parental bereavement'' as unnatural, ''a death out of turn'' that can result in survivor guilt; social reactions that include emotional and social abandonment and stigma; and ''loss of primary support'' as a result of stress on the marital dyad (p. 21). Both bereaved mothers and fathers expressed concern about the marital relationship and experienced many stressors within the family system following the sudden death of a baby.…”

The Unique Experiences of Women and Their Families After the Death of a Baby

“…While child deaths are often recognized as traumatic (Rando, 1985;Prigerson et al, 1997), the death of a baby to stillbirth brings unique social and psychological features (Cacciatore, 2007). These include feelings of disenfranchisement and limited social support for what may be considered by much of society as a non-event (Vaisanen, 1999;Rådestad, Steinbeck, Nordin, & Sjogren, 1996;Wheeler & Limbo, 1998;DeFrain et al, 1986).…”