What Are the Psychological Effects upon Children of Parental Death?
Although this is a simple question to pose, finding an adequate answer is not an easy task. The difficulties encountered in ascertaining samples of recently bereaved children, and then gaining a grieving parent’s consent to research, have imposed severe restrictions upon researchers. The issue is further complicated as investigators have different aims and objectives. Some document the nonspecific disturbance and grief that bereaved children display, whereas others focus primarily on pathological outcomes as reflected in psychiatric diagnoses, or document the social and educational adjustment of these children. The evidence on child outcome in each of these areas is reviewed, followed by consideration of the duration of reported effects. – Dowdney, L.; Childhood bereavement following parental death; Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry; Oct 2000; Vol. 41. Personal Reflection Exercise #3 The preceding section contained information about bereavement following parental death. Write
