After a child's death: factors related to parental bereavement

Abstract

Bereavement responses were assessed in 45 parents whose children died 6 months to 4 years earlier. Correlational analyses were used to determine which demographic and experiential variables were related to parental responses on 10 scales of the Grief Experiences Inventory (GEI). Parents of boys or children who died suddenly experienced more despair, anger, guilt, and depersonalization. Social support and stress since the child's death and fate-blame versus self-blame were also related to parental responses on specific GEI scales. Clinical implications for work with bereaved parents are discussed.