Parents’ views on what facilitated or complicated their grief after losing a child to cancer

Abstract

Objectives The loss of a child is a devastating event, and bereaved parents often suffer intense and long-lasting grief reactions and are at risk for psychological symptoms. More knowledge about how parents cope with grief may improve the support to bereaved parents. This study, therefore, aimed to explore parents’ views on what facilitated or complicated their grief coping after losing a child to cancer. Methods This study was derived from a nationwide postal survey. Cancer-bereaved parents (n = 161) provided written responses to two open-ended questions: “Is there anything that has helped you cope with your grief after your child's death?” and “Is there anything that made it difficult for you to cope with your grief?” Content analysis was used to analyze the responses. Results Parents reported that a supportive social network of family and friends, and having remaining children, facilitated their coping with grief. Meeting professional counselors and meeting other bereaved parents, connecting to memories of the deceased child in various contexts, including school and pediatric care settings, were also reported facilitating grief coping. Parents stated that the following experiences had complicated grief coping: additional losses in their family or social network; not being able to share emotions with their partner; when they perceived that friends, relatives, or colleagues lacked empathy or patience; when they felt challenging demands from employers at a too early stage. Significance of results This study contributes to the understanding of parents’ grief experiences and what has facilitated or complicated their coping with grief, which can help health care professionals and others improve bereavement support services.

Early Bereavement Psychosocial Outcomes in Parents of Children Who Died of Cancer With a Focus on Social Functioning

“…Primary caregivers of children during their cancer treatment and EOL may have worse outcomes given the multiple losses incurred (loss of child, loss of caregiving role, and loss of identity) and/or compounded isolation in bereavement. [52][53][54] In addition, these parents may experience distress related to witnessing their child's suffering during their illness and at EOL. 55 More research is necessary to better determine the interaction between gender identity and caregiving role.…”

Communication about diagnosis and prognosis—A population‐based survey among bereaved parents in pediatric oncology

“…The items of the survey included in this study focused on the parents' reports of communication about diagnosis and prognosis between children, parents, and healthcare professionals (Tables 3 and 4). Study results on the bereaved parents' symptoms of psychological health and prolonged grief have been reported in other publications 13–16 …”

“…Study results on the bereaved parents' symptoms of psychological health and prolonged grief have been reported in other publications. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 …”

Work‐related consequences of losing a child with cancer: A nationwide population‐based cohort study

“…Qualitative research suggests that while some cancer-bereaved parents describe their return to work as helpful in coping with their grief, others experience that working complicates their grief. 43,44 Challenges were especially pronounced if the parents had to take up work again too soon, or felt that work demands were too high too early. 43 As a way to potentially address this, a new law was passed in Denmark in 2020, to ensure financial support for bereaved parents for up to 26 weeks after losing a child.…”

“…43,44 Challenges were especially pronounced if the parents had to take up work again too soon, or felt that work demands were too high too early. 43 As a way to potentially address this, a new law was passed in Denmark in 2020, to ensure financial support for bereaved parents for up to 26 weeks after losing a child. 45 However, the effect of this law on long-term labor market affiliation has yet to be examined.…”