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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-35).

Only in the past two decades have adults become aware that terminally ill children do know at some level when they are dying. This research used a case study format to investigate the changes in how one child dying of leukemia viewed herself. Specifically, it looked for symbolic and emotional themes which emerged in the material, including Decathexis (separation) and Rebirth. Each of twenty-eight drawings created by this child was analyzed in-depth for content by the researcher. Convergent material from hospital records and a parent journal supplemented the stories and teacher notes accompanying the drawings. Six experts from three countries also categorized each drawing for images of Decathexis and Rebirth. Initially, themes of threats, dreams, trickery and intuition appeared along with fear and sadness. Once the child seemed to clearly understand that she would die, these changed to fading and distancing images, indicative of separation. There was a slight increase in images supporting themes of resignation and happiness. Physical deterioration and resistance appeared throughout the series as distortions of a girl and dilapidated and edged houses. Themes of a new home and travel also appeared throughout. The classification by experts according to Decathexis and Rebirth resulted in unanimous agreement on twenty-five per cent of the pictures and two thirds of the experts agreed on the placement of eighty-six per cent of the pictures. It would appear that on one level the child knew from the beginning that she would die, but at another level she resisted that knowledge for a time. As clear awareness of death was developing, defensive themes such as trickery and dreaming appeared in stories which accompanied the drawings. However, the images, themes and convergent material suggest that she reconciled the dual awareness levels and worked towards acceptance of her fate. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The present study sought to investigate the impact of a specific approach to death education on parental attitudes toward death education of young children. A seconf purpose was to determine if parents' self-reported level of anxiety about discussing death with their children would be affected by their participation in a specific approach to death education. And a third purpose was to determine if parents would validate the use of the educational program in which they participated as a model for other parents to learn how to better understand and be helpful to children coping with loss as a consequence of death.A total of 54 parents of children who were currently enrolled in the Rochester, Minnesota public elementary schools were randomly assigned to participate in one of three educational-discussion groups. A one-group pretest posttest design was used in the study, and the assessment instruments consisted of a Demographic Data and Attitude Questionnaire and a Parent Questionnaire Related to Children and Death.Results of the statistical investigation indicated that there was no significant difference in pre- and post group analysis regarding parents' attitudes toward death education of young children. There was a statistically significant difference (p < .01) between the pre and post comparisons on subjects' self-reported level of anxiety about discussing death with their children, and the vast majority (96.3%) agreed or strongly agreed that the educational program in which they participated could serve as a model for other parents to learn how to better understand and be helpful to children at a time of loss.On the basis of these data, conclusions were drawn and speculations were made concerning the use of the educational model in community death education programs.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-217).

Most of the research relating to children and death has been psychological or psychoanalytic in nature and has employed case studies or projective methodology. This study utilized a sociological perspective and was aimed at discovering the socialization processes that shape children's attitudes in this area of inquiry. The children's attitudes were examined in terms of four variables, their definitions of death, the relationship of age and death, their reaction to self-destruction and the destruction of others, and the affects of the media on them. Findings from this study of twenty-five children provided further support for the contention that attitudes are the result of learning experiences, i.e., socialization, involving significant others. For the most part, the children's responses were reflections of dominant social values and might therefore be considered the result of socializing factors.

Thesis--University of Southern California. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--Columbia University. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-70).

Thesis--Columbia University. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-70).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a time-limited support group for children who had recently experienced the death of a close family member. Research hypotheses were that children who participated in a support group would demonstrate significant decreases in adjustment problems related to the loss and that the specific reactions of death anxiety and guilt would be reduced. The study used a modified pretest-post-test control group design. The second experimental group (N = 11) acted as a control for the first group (N = 10), the experimental-treatment group. The treatment consisted of five sessions, each lasting an hour and a half. The instruments used were the Louisville Behavior Check List (LBCL), the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), the Junior Manifest Anxiety Scale (JMAS), and the Guilt Scale (GS). An Analysis of Variance for repeated measures with post hoc testing was used. Results indicated that children who participated in a bereavement support group did not demonstrate significantly fewer adjustment problems, nor did they show significantly lowered anxiety and guilt. The results indicated that after a six week period participants in the support group did not increase in adjustment problems, anxiety and guilt. An evaluation questionnaire found that the majority of the participants responded positively to the group experience and wanted the group to continue. Limitations of the study were noted and recommendations for further investigation were made.