Living in a World without Closure: Reality for Parents who have Experienced the Death of a Child

Woodgate, Roberta Lynn

doi:10.1177/082585970602200203

Cited by 69 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The number of mothers agreeing to take part (n = 59) far exceeded the number of fathers (n = 5), which is consistent with the previous research carried out with bereaved parents, e.g. Murphy, Tapper, Johnson, and Lohan (2003); Woodgate (2006).…”

Section: Methods Participantssupporting

confidence: 84%

Factors associated with grief and depression following the loss of a child: A multivariate analysis

Harper

O’Connor

O’Carroll

2013

Psychology, Health & Medicine

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The present study aims to explore the factors which are associated with grief and depression outcomes in a group of bereaved parents in the first few years following the loss of a child. Sixty-four participants were recruited from bereavement support organisations, between two and 59 months post loss, mean 30 months (SD = 15). They completed a questionnaire packet which comprised standard instruments measuring grief, depression, coping styles, continuing bonds and optimism/pessimism, as well as a number of specific bereavement-related questions. Univariate analyses were conducted to establish which factors were associated with grief and depression. Those which were statistically significant were then entered into multivariate analyses to establish their relative importance. High levels of avoidance and depression and lower levels of cognitive restructuring (benefit finding) were associated with higher grief symptoms, whereas higher levels of avoidance and alcohol/substance use were associated with higher depression symptoms. The present study highlights the relative importance of different coping strategies adopted by this group of bereaved parents, compared to the relative unimportance of circumstances around the loss, e.g. sudden or violent death. The use of alcohol and other substances by bereaved parents requires urgent attention as a potentially life-threatening maladaptive coping strategy. The call for further research into risk factors for bereaved parents is emphasised.

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Section: Methods Participantssupporting

confidence: 84%

Factors associated with grief and depression following the loss of a child: A multivariate analysis

Harper

O’Connor

O’Carroll

2013

Psychology, Health & Medicine

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“…This view is also supported by previous studies: part of ''being a good parent'' is making decisions regarding phase I or other end-of-life treatments. 10,11,21 This result also accords with another finding on parents' desire to play a vital role and assume responsibility for their critically ill child or child with nonmalignant disease. 22,23 The parent's thought category of ''being compelled to continue cancer-directed/life-sustaining treatment'' represented an important parental feeling: that of pinning all their …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…10 This form of support might allow the bereaved parents to share the feeling of having been parents of the child; this is one of the most important feelings for parents when they have to make end-of-life decisions for children. 20,21 When parents were informed about the incurable nature of their child's cancer, their perceptions, especially about death, varied. This finding corresponds to that of a previous study.…”

Section: Matsuoka and Naramamentioning

confidence: 99%

Parents' Thoughts and Perceptions on Hearing that Their Child Has Incurable Cancer

Matsuoka

Narama

2012

Journal of Palliative Medicine

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“…5,16,35,36,44,47,48 Parents identified the need for continuity of caregivers, preferably from diagnosis to death. 4,29,42,49 Having a consistent group of caregivers who had a good connection with the family led to better continuity of information and better quality of care overall. 22 Without this continuity, parents were more anxious and perceived increased suffering for their children.…”

Section: Connectingmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Children experience a great deal of suffering from pain and other symptoms left inadequately treated, 1,2 parents feel abandoned by health professionals both before and after their child's death, 3,4 parents' opinions are not sought or respected, 5 and siblings' needs are forgotten. 6 In addition, a child's death can have a longYlasting negative impact on the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health of all family members.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Exploring the Supportive Care Model as a Framework for Pediatric Palliative Care

Widger

Steele

Oberle

et al. 2009

Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing

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v The fit between the Supportive Care Model and existing research on parent perspectives about pediatric palliative care was explored following a review of the literature. An electronic search of Medline and CINAHL from 2004 to January 2009 resulted in 49 articles on 38 studies that sought parent perspectives on care provided by health professionals during palliation, end of life, and/or bereavement. Results were synthesized according to the dimensions of the Supportive Care Model. The model fit well with the research, indicating that the highest quality pediatric palliative care occurred when there was a fundamental valuing of the child and family, when individual human connections were made and continued throughout and following illness and death, when families felt empowered, when some aspects of care were performed for families, when families were supported in their search for meaning in their situation, and when the integrity of each individual and the family as a whole was preserved. The research also suggests that careful assessment of individual family preferences within each dimension is crucial. The model is proposed as a helpful guide for clinical practice with dying children and their families. K E Y W O R D S children end of life palliative care parents Supportive Care Model

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Living in a World without Closure: Reality for Parents who have Experienced the Death of a Child

Abstract: The death of a child has been described as

Cited by 69 publications

References 30 publications

Factors associated with grief and depression following the loss of a child: A multivariate analysis

Factors associated with grief and depression following the loss of a child: A multivariate analysis

Parents' Thoughts and Perceptions on Hearing that Their Child Has Incurable Cancer

Exploring the Supportive Care Model as a Framework for Pediatric Palliative Care

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