Grieving Those We've Lost: An Examination of Family Communication Patterns and Grief Reactions

Carmon, Anna F.; Western, Kai J.; Miller, Amy N.; Pearson, Judy C.; Fowler, Michael Ross

doi:10.1080/08824096.2010.496329

Cited by 20 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In this respect, it is significant that Carmon, Western, Pearson, and Fowler (2010) took a systemic approach to understanding grief by embedding it in family relational schemata theory (Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 2006), predicting that making sense of the death would be facilitated via the encouragement of communication within the family (i.e. a high family conversation orientation).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family characteristics and dynamics: A systems approach to grief

Hayslip

Page

2013

Family Science

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This paper addresses the importance of attending to the interplay of one person's grief with that of another in the context of the family's relationship to the culture at large, where the individual is embedded in a larger matrix of relationships with others as well with the larger interpersonal and cultural context in which the family is embedded. Viewed systemically, grief may or may not be expressed similarly among family members, based upon the impact of a death on them as well as the meaning they attribute to this death. These intra-family differences are a function of how family members interact and communicate, in part consistent with the developmental phase at which families as intergenerational entities are functioning, wherein developmental shifts in family dynamics may also predict of individual grief over time. The therapeutic and research implications of a systems approach to grief are also discussed here.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Family characteristics and dynamics: A systems approach to grief

Hayslip

Page

2013

Family Science

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“…The framework highlights the role of open communication and homogeneity in creating a familial communicative climate. In their work, Carmon and colleagues (2010) identified that FCPs impact grief reactions following a family death and that this connection was particularly apparent for perceptions of conversation orientation, which predicted less detachment and more personal growth for the bereaved (Carmon, Western, Miller, Pearson, & Fowler, 2010). Building on their findings, this study included perceptions of conversation orientation (RFCP-C) as a covariate to account for differences in parent–child communication that may impact the individual and the relationship following a family loss.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parent–child relationships following spousal/parental death: An application of relational turbulence theory

Droser

2019

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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The death of a family member is a difficult experience. Although implications of loss are felt on intra- and interpersonal levels, little is known about how it affects the relational functioning of surviving family members, and in particular the parent–child relationship. Using data collected from 144 bereaved parent–child dyads, this study examined how the divergent experiences of spousally bereaved parents and parentally bereaved children impact the parent–child relationship following spousal/parental death. Drawing from relational turbulence theory (RTT), experiences with relational uncertainty and interference from a partner were explored. Findings indicate that parent–child pairs experience different types of relational uncertainty and interference from a partner and that within-dyad disagreement on these experiences can increase the amount of uncertainty and interference from a partner that an individual faces. This study extends RTT and demonstrates its generalizability to the parent–child relationship.

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“…According to Carmon, Western, Miller, Pearson, and Fowler (2010), increased perceptions of conversation orientation prior to a death in the family was related to increased feelings of personal growth and decreased feelings of detachment while grieving. Studies show individuals from families high in conversation orientation are more likely to display constructive conflict strategies such as integrating, compromising, and seeking social support (Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 1997;Shearman & Dumlao, 2008).…”

Section: Family Communication Patterns Theorymentioning

confidence: 96%