The sudden or violent death of a loved one (e.g., suicide, homicide, accident, etc.) poses unique challenges for the bereaved. Research has found such losses to be associated with higher levels of chronic psychological distress, now termed Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder in the DSM-5 and Prolonged Grief Disorder in the forthcoming ICD-11. The present study, developed through the lens of Multidimensional Grief Theory (MGT; Kaplow et al., 2013), explored underlying mechanisms and risk and protective factors for both prolonged grief and posttraumatic growth. With a mixed college and community sample of 374 traumatically bereaved adults, results of a path analysis suggest that insecure attachment strategies play a significant role in prolonged grief symptoms through the mediators of identity distress and shattered assumptions. Faced with the traumatic loss of a loved one, the ability and desire to effectively access relationships facilitating intentional processing that promotes cognitive reorganization is predicated on the bereaved's internal working model of attachment. Specifically, attachment anxiety in relation to close others and God, and attachment avoidance in relation to close others, were indirectly associated with prolonged grief. However, attachment avoidance in relation to God was negatively associated with both prolonged grief and posttraumatic growth, and there was no evidence for mediation. One explanation for this could be that individuals endorsing divine attachment avoidance are less likely to make negative religious attributions about the death, which have been associated with chronic psychological distress, but are also less likely to be able to utilize the sacred as a context for growth. By considering traumatically bereaved individuals' internal working model of attachment, level of identity distress, and potentially shattered assumptions, our model accounted for each of MGT's three domains of distress thought to impact post-lost adjustment. That these domains were both inter-related and associated with differential outcomes speaks to the complex nuances of each grief journey and the importance of attending to more than global levels of distress. These results inform the assessment and treatment of individuals bereaved through sudden or violent means.

In South Africa the death of a significant caregiver is a haunting possibility. Violence, crime, road accidents, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and substance abuse are household words that describe some of the causes of "untimely deaths" of parents who still have young, school-going children. These children carry their bereavement with them to school. The challenge of standing with them lies not only with their caregivers, but also with staff and children in our school community. In co-authoring conversations with children in our school who have experienced bereavement and loss, this qualitative study used research as co-search to uncover children's preferred knowledges and spiritualities about coping, hope, care and communities of concern. This study used therapy-as-research and participatory action research-as-therapy in what developed into a network of caring communities for the participants, caregivers and therapist. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

by Cheng Bing-yee, Banny. / Questionnaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-151). / ABSTRACT --- p.11 / Chapter ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.14 / Chapter TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Bereavement --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Stress --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Social support --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4 --- Quality of life --- p.43 / Chapter THREE --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1 --- Conceptual definition of variables --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2 --- Relationship of the variables in this study --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Research questions and hypotheses of this study --- p.58 / Chapter FOUR --- METHODOLOGY --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1 --- Research design and sampling method --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Data collection operation --- p.61 / Chapter 4.3 --- Data analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 4.4 --- Measuring instrument --- p.62 / Chapter FIVE --- RESULTS --- p.67 / Chapter 5.1 --- Demographic characteristics --- p.67 / Chapter 5.2 --- Psychometric properties of the scales --- p.70 / Chapter 5.3 --- "Descriptive findings on stress of bereavement, social support, and quality of life" --- p.73 / Chapter 5.4 --- "Impact of demographic characteristics of the respondents on perceived stress, social support, and quality of life" --- p.103 / Chapter 5.5 --- "Relationships between stressor, perceived stress, social support and quality of life" --- p.106 / Chapter SIX --- DISCUSSION --- p.117 / Chapter 6.1 --- Discussion on methodology of this study --- p.117 / Chapter 6.2 --- Discussion on the results of the findings --- p.118 / Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations of the research --- p.130 / Chapter SEVEN --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION --- p.132 / Chapter 7.1 --- Recommendations for general practice --- p.132 / Chapter 7.2 --- Recommendations for bereavement services and program --- p.135 / Chapter 7.3 --- Further Research --- p.141

In South Africa the death of a significant caregiver is a haunting possibility. Violence, crime, road accidents, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and substance abuse are household words that describe some of the causes of "untimely deaths" of parents who still have young, school-going children. These children carry their bereavement with them to school. The challenge of standing with them lies not only with their caregivers, but also with staff and children in our school community. In co-authoring conversations with children in our school who have experienced bereavement and loss, this qualitative study used research as co-search to uncover children's preferred knowledges and spiritualities about coping, hope, care and communities of concern. This study used therapy-as-research and participatory action research-as-therapy in what developed into a network of caring communities for the participants, caregivers and therapist. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

AIDS-related bereavement counselling programmes / The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a need for specific bereavement counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, where death is believed to be fated. Six AIDS-bereaved women were recruited. Data analysis was conducted based on the women's interview transcripts and journal entries. The women experienced at least three traumatic life events. The most challenging experience was learning that they have contracted a disease they knew to be mostly associated with prostitution. Given the short lapse of time between their husbands' deaths and learning about their seropositivity, biographical disruption appeared to have acted as an "analgesic", while concerns to protect their children seemed to have triggered biographical reinforcement. This phenomenon may have brought about a positive bereavement outcome. Specific counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS are needed, but emphasis should first be placed on improving their wellbeing and their perception of stigma. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS))

AIDS-related bereavement counselling programmes / The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a need for specific bereavement counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, where death is believed to be fated. Six AIDS-bereaved women were recruited. Data analysis was conducted based on the women's interview transcripts and journal entries. The women experienced at least three traumatic life events. The most challenging experience was learning that they have contracted a disease they knew to be mostly associated with prostitution. Given the short lapse of time between their husbands' deaths and learning about their seropositivity, biographical disruption appeared to have acted as an "analgesic", while concerns to protect their children seemed to have triggered biographical reinforcement. This phenomenon may have brought about a positive bereavement outcome. Specific counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS are needed, but emphasis should first be placed on improving their wellbeing and their perception of stigma. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS))

Text in Afrikaans / The death of a parent is one of the most meaningful experiences in life. When the child in mourning is not given a proper chance to grieve, there could be complications later in life. In this study scrapbooking, as a tool in Gestalt group work, was utilised to assist three pre-adolescents after the death of a parent. The goal of this research was to determine whether scrapbooking could be successfully used with in the grieving stages after the death of a parent. The social caracter of scrapbooking makes this relevant to the pre-adolescent stage as the need to socialize is of great importance. From the results of this study, scrapbooking can be recommended to therapists to be used as a tool in assisting children during the grieving process. / Die dood van cn ouer blyk een van die mees betekenisvolle gebeure in die mens se lewe te wees. Wanneer die kind in ruil nie die geleentheid gegun word om op haar eie tyd en manier te rou nie, kan latere komplikasies na vore tree. In hierdie studie is scrapbooking as hulpmiddel in Gestalt-groepwerk met drie vroee adolessente benut om van hulp te wees na die afsterwe van 'n ouer. Die doel van die navorsing was om te bepaal of scrapbooking wel suksesvol op die wyse in die rou-proses gebruik kan word. Die sosiale komponent van scrapbooking behels die saamwees en saamwerk aan 'n scrapboek met 'n gemeenskaplike tema. Aangesien vroee adolessensie 'n ontwikkelingstadium is waar die sosiale komponent belangrik is, is die navorser van mening dat scrapbooking juis om die rede sal kan werk om verligting te bied na die afsterwe van 'n ouer. Scrapbooking word aanbeveel om tot hulp te wees om die rouproses te vergemaklik. / Social Work / MDIAC (Play Therapy)

This study sets out to demonstrate the usefulness of cybernetic description for grief therapy, specifically the field parental loss of a child. This paradigm was used to facilitate an alternate mode of conceptualisation, one engendering a more encompassing, aesthetic view. The following core cybernetic concepts were used: punctuation, complementarity, pattern and metapattern forming the framework of cybernetic description as applied. A literature study attempting to merge the gestalt of cybernetic description with that of bereavement theory, specifically that pertaining to the parental loss of a child, is presented. A single case study is described illustrating how cybernetic description is applied to the grief narrative. Arising out of this, the implications of cybernetic description for the field of grief and social work in general are outlined. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Thesis (M.Psyc.)--University of South Africa, 2001.

Thesis (MTh) -- Stellenbosch University, 1996. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grief pastorate often has the shortcoming where the ministry strategy focuses more on short term involvement than a long term accompaniment. The minister's involvement necessarily focuses on the crisis around the initial shock phase. The duration of the grief process is hardly predictable. The pastor must therefore follow a long term approach. This long term approach must set about in earnest with the interdependence of the grief process on the one hand and on the other hand a growth process. Such an approach can be characterised as a pastoral growth model where Clinebell's growth model is used as the basis. The aim of this pastoral growth model is the development of spirituality. Spirituality is understood as the total human life in communion with God and that includes the following aspects: Identity, intimacy, sinfulness, lordship, mortality, holiness and commitment. Through the holistic character of spirituality the mourner is addressed in totality- in his or her total humanness. This eliminates the danger where the pastorate is guilty, on the one hand of emphasis of the spiritual aspect, on the other hand the human aspect of man. A pastoral growth model for the development of spirituality during grief is a comprehensive, well-grounded pastoral model which could be made use of successfully during grief pastorate. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Rousmartpastoraat het dikwels die tekortkoming dat die bedieningstrategie meer op korttemyn betrokkenheid ingestel is as op 'n langtermyn begeleidingsproses. Die predikant se betrokkenheid fokus hoofsaaklik op die krisis random die aanvanklike skokfase. Die duur van die rouproses is moeilik voorspelbaar. Die pastor moet daarom 'n langtermyn benadering volg. Hierdie langtermyn benadering moet erns maak met die interafhanklikheid van enersyds die rouproses en andersyds 'n groeiproses. So 'n benadering kan tipeer word as 'n pastorale groeimodel waar Clinebell se groeimodel as basis gebruik word. Die doelstelling van hierdie pastorale groeimodel is die ontwikkeling van spiritualiteit. Spiritualiteit word verstaan as die totale menslike lewe in gemeenskap met God en dit sluit die volgende aspekte in: ldentiteit, intimiteit, sondigheid, heerskappy, sterflikheid, heiligheid en verbondenheid. Vanweë die holistiese karakter van spiritualiteit word die treurende in geheel aangespreek- in sy of haar totale menswees. Dit skakel die gevaar uit dat die pastoraat skuldig kan wees aan ‘n beklemtoning van enersyds die geestelike aspek of andersyds die menslike aspek van die mens. 'n Pastorale groeimodel vir die ontwikkeling van spiritualiteit tydens rousmart is 'n omvattende, begronde pastorale model wat met groot vrug gebruik kan word tydens rousmartpastoraat.