Children’s experience with death is a normative experience occurring around 8 years of age for most (Knight, Elfenbein, & Capozzi, 2000). Though this is an expected part of childhood, the need for and effectiveness of bereavement support for children is outlined in the literature as these experiences can put children at risk for emotional and behavioral difficulties (Samide & Stockton, 2002; Siddaway, Wood, Schulz, and Trickey, 2015). The current presentation outlines the exploratory implementation of grief support groups in a middle and elementary school for children dealing with the death of a loved one to support them in their grief. These 5 weekly sessions were designed and executed using evidence-based and peer-reviewed literature, which will be further discussed in this presentation, along with the theoretical perspective through which this project was approached. Finally, the tool developed to evaluate the outcomes of these sessions will be shared in conjunction with the end results.

Bereavement and grief are life changing and universal experiences. People cope with loss of a loved one in many ways. For some the experience may lead to personal growth and for others it could lead to deterioration in their normal functioning. There is no right way of coping with death. The way a person grieves depends on the personality of that person and the relationship with the person that has died. Grief and loss occurs both at work and at home. However, these days, most people spend more of their time at the workplace than at home. Therefore when a colleague dies or one is grieving a death or a loss, the impact on his or her co-workers can be tremendous. The death of an employee can bring the workplace activity to a halt. Anyone who knew the person will experience some degree of shock and anxiety. However, how a person copes with grief is affected by the person’s cultural and religious background, coping skills, mental history, support systems and the person’s social and financial situation. The workplace could therefore be a significant support system that could help a person to cope with the loss. The manner in which grief and loss are managed in the workplace could determine if the employees’ experiences of this loss is dealt with either positively or negatively. The researcher, through consultations with employees at Umgeni Hospital, has learnt that the employees have within a short time period experienced the loss of several colleagues through traumatic events. Some employees are also struggling to cope with losses in their personal lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital. The objectives of this study were: <ul> <li> To conceptualize theoretically employee bereavement and its impact in the workplace as well as the support strategies for employees.</li> <li> To conduct an empirical investigation into the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital.</li> <li> To provide recommendations to the hospital management on the need for a bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital based on the information gained from this research.</li> </ul> A quantitative research approach was used to assist the researcher understand this need. Applied research focusses on problem solving in practice. In this study applied research was used as the findings of this exploratory study determined the recommendations to management on the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital. The data collection method was hand delivered questionnaires. The population for the study was 422 employees. However, systematic sampling was used to chose a sample of 70 employees. These questionnaires were pilot tested on 5 employees that did not form part of the actual study. The data was analysed using the SPSS statistical package, interpreted and displayed using table format and various graphical presentations. The goal of the study was to investigate the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital. This goal was definitely achieved as the study determined not only that there is definitely a need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital but also the exact or specific needs of the employees with regards to the programme itself. This study would therefore definitely add value to the hospital and its employees as it will assist hospital management in developing an appropriate bereavement support programme to assist their employees in the future. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Understanding and prediction of children's adaptation to loss requires attention to family characteristics and interpersonal patterns in addition to individual variables. Empirical inquiries into family variables have indicated that the concepts of cohesion and expressiveness in particular may be useful in explaining members' adjustment. Using both deductive and inductive methods this study developed a reliable behavioral coding system for observing family members as they described the story of a child's death. The study also examined the relationship of these observable behaviors to both self-reports of cohesion and expressiveness and measures of individual adjustment. In terms of convergent validity the Expressiveness subscale of the Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1986) was more readily associated with observable behaviors than was the Cohesion subscale. Discriminant validity was not established, however, and possible explanations for this were discussed. Examination of criterion-related and predictive validity demonstrated the uti1ity of both se1f-report and behavioral measures of cohesion and expressiveness in accounting for parental depression, child behavior problems, and other specific indicators of distress. Implications for clinical intervention with bereaved families were discussed. / Ph. D.

This study investigated the process of bereavement in the Xhosa, Zulu and Tswana cultures with participants including three cultural experts and a bereaved family from each ethnic group. Data was collected using semi – structured interviews mainly in the participants’ homes. Analysis was used by comparing and contrasting the information gathered. Empirical research findings revealed that the process in the African culture specifically in these three ethnic groups is different from the western culture as stated in the literature. The literature review findings show that the western culture’s processes of bereavement seem focused in the intrapersonal processes. However, the African Black cultures seem to be focused more on interpersonal processes of bereavement. Recommendations are made in the study on how a western trained Educational Psychologist can approach a bereaved client coming from these ethnic groups. Recommendations are also made for Educators and Parents. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This study investigated the process of bereavement in the Xhosa, Zulu and Tswana cultures with participants including three cultural experts and a bereaved family from each ethnic group. Data was collected using semi – structured interviews mainly in the participants’ homes. Analysis was used by comparing and contrasting the information gathered. Empirical research findings revealed that the process in the African culture specifically in these three ethnic groups is different from the western culture as stated in the literature. The literature review findings show that the western culture’s processes of bereavement seem focused in the intrapersonal processes. However, the African Black cultures seem to be focused more on interpersonal processes of bereavement. Recommendations are made in the study on how a western trained Educational Psychologist can approach a bereaved client coming from these ethnic groups. Recommendations are also made for Educators and Parents. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:40:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Reis e Silva.pdf: 3479822 bytes, checksum: 2bd8dd4c462da22cc01284d074772bca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-11 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Suicide is a complex behavior and is considered as a public health problem. Little attention has been given to the surviving family members. The present research deals with the process of parental bereavement due to a child suicide. The process gathers two variable of potential risk for the development of complicated mourning: the loss of a child and the kind of death involving suicide. The research analyses matters related to the suicide of a child by means of a case study, which is based on a qualitative method, involving a mother who lost her son by suicide one year and three months before the study. A semi-structured interview and the construction of a genogram are used as tools. The thematic analysis reveals a singular bereavement process involving trauma and grief. It presents the son characteristics, the illness history, the suicide, the shock, the guilt, the paralysis, longing feelings, sadness, the ups and downs, the health and the resiliency among other emerging aspects, which seem to be mixed in the participant s verbalization influencing in a recurrent way the mourning process. The author draws the conclusion that religiosity, professional support, social support, art, meaning constructions, the way of sharing among other resources of confrontation can contribute positively, although in a short period of time, for a change in the future expectation. The author considers that the achieved information is only the beginning of recognition of the importance of not labeling negatively the survival family members over suicide, besides the possibility of breaking silence and prejudice involved in it so that they can receive the right support / O suicídio é um ato complexo considerado problema de saúde pública, e pouca atenção tem sido dispensada aos sobreviventes. Este trabalho trata do processo de luto de pais por suicídio de um filho por englobar duas variáveis de potencial risco para o desenvolvimento do luto complicado: a perda de um filho e a morte por suicídio. Examina o processo à luz do paradigma sistêmico. Adota uma metodologia de abordagem qualitativa, mediante um estudo de caso que envolve uma mãe enlutada há um ano e três meses. Utiliza como instrumentos uma entrevista semiestruturada e a construção do genograma familiar. A análise temática revela uma riqueza nos dados obtidos, apesar do trauma e do sofrimento envolvidos, mostrando que as características do filho, a história da doença, o suicídio, o choque, a culpa, a paralisia, a saudade, a tristeza, os altos e baixos, a saúde, a resiliência, entre outros aspectos emergentes que aparecem mesclados no discurso da participante, influenciam de maneira recursiva o processo de luto. Conclui que a religiosidade, o apoio profissional, o apoio social, a arte, a construção de significados, o compartilhar, entre outros recursos de enfrentamento, podem contribuir positivamente, mesmo em pouco tempo, para uma mudança nas expectativas para o futuro. Considera que os dados obtidos são apenas o começo do reconhecimento da importância do cuidado de não se rotular negativamente os sobreviventes ao suicídio, além da possibilidade de romper o silêncio e o preconceito que os envolvem, para que possam receber o acolhimento adequado

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Suicide is the third leading cause of death of worldwide, and its social ramifications are far-reaching. Due to the stigma associated with suicide, as well as the unique emotional processes that occur during bereavement following this mode of death, suicide bereavement is regarded as different - and more intense - than other grief experiences. While the effects of suicide on the suicide-bereaved have been well-documented using objective measures of outcome, the subjective, and often unquantifiable emotional, familial and social consequences of suicide have been largely under-researched. By using an interpretive approach, this study focuses on the subjective experiences of those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Five suicide-bereaved individuals were sampled from a particular community, and their experiences were elicited using semi-structured interviews. The results indicate a number of emotional as well as social processes that occur after suicide, including intense longing for the deceased; rationalisation, disbelief, and denial; feelings of anger, guilt, regret, and sadness; a search for answers, meaning and closure; and blaming and social isolation. While these processes cannot be said to occur exclusively in suicide bereavement, they appear to be experienced more intensely during this form of grief.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to the far-reaching effects of bereavement on the psychological, physical and emotional levels, this study was designed to identify the personality types that are conducive with coping and non-coping characteristics of the bereavement experience. This study examines Jung’s attitudes of Introversion and Extraversion and his functions of Sensing, Intuition, Thinking and Feeling to determine which are more conducive with coping and non-coping bereavement behaviour. The role that Sense of Coherence plays in the coping and non-coping characteristics in the bereavement process was also examined. Personality type is a construct developed by Carl Jung to explain some of the apparently random differences in human behaviour. Recognising the existence of these types, Jung’s theory provides an explanation of how these types develop. The different types are the result of the different ways in which individuals prefer to use their mind. The Salutogenic approach and Generalised Resistance Resource, developed by Antonovsky, is the building block from which the eventual development of the Sense of Coherence concept is based. Sense of Coherence is comprised of three components namely: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. The degree to which these components are presented in one’s life determines an individual’s global orientation to life. The Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (Faschingbauer, Zisook, & De Vaul, 1987), Singer-Loomis Type Deployment Inventory (Singer, Loomis, Kirkhart & Kirkhart, 1996) and the Sense of Coherence scale (Antonovsky, 1987) were completed by twenty-seven individuals (n=27) who recently lost a loved one due to terminal illness or anticipated death. The results of the study were processed and analysed by means of ANOVAS. Because of the small sample size, use was made of the bootstrap method to optimise results. Analysis of the data showed that coping individuals displayed a significant preference for feeling, judging and a high level of sense of coherence, whilst non-coping individuals showed preferences for intuition, perceiving and low level of sense of coherence. No significant difference was found for introversion, extroversion, sensing and thinking. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weens die verrykende gevolge van die rouproses op die sielkundige, fisiese en emosionele vlakke, is die doel van hierdie studie om die verskillende persoonlikheidstipes te identifiseer wat bevorderlik is vir die hantering van die rouproses. Hierdie studie bestudeer Jung se houding van Introversie en Ekstroversie, asook sy funksies van Waarneming, Intuisie, Denke and Gevoel om vas te stel watter van hierdie houdings en funksies ‘n rol speel in die hantering van die rouproses, al dan nie. Persoonlikheidstipe is ‘n konstruksie wat deur Carl Jung ontwikkel is om van die waarskynlike toevallige verskille in menslike gedrag te verduidelik. Deur erkenning te gee aan die bestaan van hierdie persoonlikheidstipes, verskaf Jung se teorie ‘n verduideliking van hoe hierdie tipes ontwikkel. Die verskillende tipes is die gevolg van verskillende wyse waarop individue verkies om hul verstand te gebruik. Die Salutogeniese benadering en Veralgemeende Weerstandsbron, deur Antonovsky ontwikkel, vorm die bousteen waarop die uiteindelike ontwikkeling van die konsep van Sin vir Koherensie gebaseer is. Sin vir Koherensie bestaan uit drie komponente: verstaanbaarheid, hanteerbaarheid en betekenisvolheid. Die graad waartoe hierdie komponente in ‘n mens se lewe voorkom is die graad waartoe die individu globale oriëntasie vir die lewe openbaar. Die Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (Faschingbauer, Zisook, & De Vaul, 1987), Singer-Loomis Type Deployment Inventory (Singer, Loomis, Kirkhart & Kirkhart, 1996) en die Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky, 1987) is deur sewe-en-twintig individue voltooi (n=27). Slegs individue wie ‘n familielid aan ‘n terminale siekte of verwagte dood verloor het, is ingesluit vir die studie. Die resultate van die studie is geprosesseer en geanaliseer deur middel van ANOVAS. Omdat die monster klein was, is die bootstrap metode gebruik vir optimaal resultate. Analises van data het getoon dat individue wat die rouproses goed hanteer, ‘n betekenisvolle voorkeur het vir gevoel, oordeel en hoë Sin vir Koherensie. Diegene wie se hantering van die rouproses negatief is, toon egter voorkeur vir intuisie, waarneming en ‘n lae Sin vir Koherensie. Geen opvallende verskil is gevind vir introversie, ekstraversie, waarneming en denke.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The death of a parent calls on the family to utilize all its resources in order to adapt successfully and maintain normal family functioning. Within the mental health field a paradigm-shift from pathology-based to health-oriented is underway. Integral to this health-oriented paradigm is resilience, the ability to rebound after being stressed or challenged, as well as being able to rise above adversity and to survive stress. Family resilience theory emphasizes the role that family characteristics, behaviour patterns and capabilities play in cushioning the impact of stressful life events and in assisting the family in recovering from crises (McCubbin, Thompson, & McCubbin, 1996). Using a crosssectional survey research design, the present study aimed to explore and explicate those resiliency factors which enable families to adjust and adapt successfully after the loss of a parent. Families in which the death of a parent took place 1 to 3 years ago, and in which the eldest child was between 12 and 19 years old were approached to take part in this study. Thirty nine families completed questionnaires, as well as an open-ended question in which they were asked to report the most important factors or strengths which they felt helped their family through the stressful period. Results indicate that intrafamilial support such as emotional and practical support amongst family members, and family hardiness characteristics such as the internal strengths and durability of the family unit, contribute to resilience within the family. Individual characteristics, such as positive personality characteristics like optimism, are as important. Support from extended family and friends, as well as support obtained from religious and spiritual beliefs and activities, were reported as facilitating successful adjustment to the loss. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die dood van 'n ouer vereis dat 'n gesin alle bronne moet benut ten einde suksesvolle aanpassing en gewone gesinsfunksionering te handhaaf. Binne die geestesgesondheidsveld is daar 'n paradigma-verskuiwing vanaf patologie-gebaseerd na gesondheidsgeoriënteerd. Integraal tot hierdie gesondheidsgeoriënteerde paradigma is veerkragtigheid, die vermoë om terug te bons, uit te styg, en te oorleef nadat teëspoed ervaar is. Gesinsveerkragtigheidsteorieë beklemtoon die rol wat gesinseienskappe, gedragspatrone en bekwaamhede speel met betrekking tot die versagting van die impak van stresvolle lewenservaringe, asook die gesin se herstel na die krisis (McCubbin, Thompson, & McCubbin, 1996). 'n Dwarssnit opname-navorsingsontwerp is gebruik om die veerkragtigheidsfaktore te identifiseer en te beskryf wat gesinne help om suksesvol na die dood van 'n ouer aan te pas. Gesinne waar 'n ouer tussen een en drie jaar vantevore gesterf het, en die oudste kind tussen 12 en 19 jaar oud is, is genader vir deelname aan hierdie ondersoek. Nege-en-dertig gesinne het vraelyste sowel as 'n oop-end vraag voltooi waarin hulle gevra is om die belangrikste faktore te beskryf wat hul gesin deur die stresvolle periode gehelp het. Resultate dui daarop dat intragesinsondersteuning soos emosionele en praktiese ondersteuning, en gesinsgehardheid met kenmerke van interne sterkte en die volhoubaarheid van die gesin as eenheid, bygedra het tot gesinsveerkragtigheid. Individuele eienskappe soos optimisme het net so 'n essensiële rol gespeel. Ondersteuning van familie en vriende, asook ondersteuning as gevolg van godsdienstige en spirituele oortuigings en aktiwiteite, was fasiliterend in die suksesvolle aanpassing na die dood van 'n ouer.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the needs of sibling-bereaved adolescents in high schools in the Western Cape, South Africa. A grounded theory approach was used to examine unexpected sibling bereavement with specific focus on participant perceptions and experiences regarding support provided by their high school. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with siblings who were in high school when their brother or sister died suddenly. An argument is developed for why high schools need insight into effective ways of supporting sibling-bereaved adolescents as they attempt to fit in and function at school. As this study was conducted in a multi-language environment, attention is given to the differing abilities of adolescents to articulate their bereavement experience. The effectiveness of focus groups with this population and the importance of providing psycho-education support during the interviewing process are emphasised. The scarcity of studies on adolescent bereavement in South Africa can be attributed to a combination of the emotional painfulness of the subject for adolescents and gatekeeping by school personnel and parents. Understandably, concerns about disclosure and fresh trauma/grief triggering may be given precedence over research. Themes grounded in the data uncovered a psychosocial journey involving disruption, transition and changed self. Bereaved siblings felt singled out as different from their peers when they return to school. Hence discreet acknowledgement and disclosure of the death is important to them. A key finding is that accomplishment plays a significant role in boosting the flagging morale of bereaved adolescents. Accomplishment aids their inviduation and stimulates them to regain interest in their own life goals. While individual teachers and other school personnel were considered helpful, there was an absence of a structured plan of support for bereaved adolescents in the schools examined. Attachment theory foregrounded an explanation of why the loss of a sibling during adolescence can have a lasting influence on the future of those left behind. Most adolescents in the study evidenced a desire for an on-going connection with their sibling who died while they simultaneously took on new roles to try and fill the void created by their death. Findings from this study are intended to provide richer insight into the complexity of adolescent sibling bereavement and may also serve to inform educational and health care interventions for bereaved learners in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie verken die behoeftes van adolessente in hoërskole in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika, ná die verlies van ’n broer of suster. ’n Gegronde-teorie-benadering is gebruik om ondersoek in te stel na adolessente wat onverwags ’n broer of suster verloor het, met bepaalde klem op deelnemers se opvattings oor, en ervarings van, die steun wat hulle van hul onderskeie hoërskole ontvang het. Onderhoude en fokusgroepe is dus gehou met adolessente wat op hoërskool was toe hul broer of suster skielik gesterf het. Die studie beredeneer waarom hoërskole insig moet hê in die doeltreffende ondersteuning van adolessente wat ’n broer of suster aan die dood moes afstaan, namate hulle weer op skool probeer inpas en funksioneer. Aangesien hierdie studie in ’n meertalige omgewing uitgevoer is, word adolessente se wisselende vermoëns om hul ervaring van verlies te verwoord, in ag geneem. Die doeltreffendheid van fokusgroepe met hierdie populasie, sowel as die belang van psigo-opvoedkundige steun gedurende die onderhoudproses, word beklemtoon. Die seldsaamheid van Suid-Afrikaanse studies oor adolessente wat broers of susters verloor, kan toegeskryf word aan ’n kombinasie van die emosionele pyn wat die onderwerp by adolessente oproep, en skoolpersoneel en ouers wat adolessente teen sodanige navorsing beskerm. Uiteraard is dit te verstane dat kommer oor openbaarmaking en die vars trauma/hartseer wat dit kan ontlok, dikwels voorrang kry bo navorsing. Die temas wat in die data vasgelê was, bring ’n psigososiale reis van ontwrigting, oorgang en verandering van die self aan die lig. Adolessente wat broers of susters aan die dood moes afstaan, het met hul terugkeer skool toe uitgesonder en anders as hul portuur gevoel. Dus is oordeelkundige erkenning en openbaarmaking van die sterfgeval vir hulle belangrik. Een van die belangrikste bevindinge is dat prestasie ’n beduidende rol speel om die verswakte moreel van sodanige adolessente ’n hupstoot te gee. Prestasie help met hulle individuasie, en stimuleer hulle om opnuut in hul eie lewensdoelwitte belang te stel. Hoewel individuele onderwysers en ander skoolpersoneel as tegemoetkomend beskou is, was daar geen gestruktureerde ondersteuningsplan vir die adolessente in die betrokke skole nie. Die gehegtheidsteorie doen ’n verklaring aan die hand van waarom die verlies van ’n broer of suster gedurende adolessensie ’n blywende invloed kan hê op die toekoms van die kinders wat agterbly. Die meeste adolessente in die studie het ’n begeerte getoon na ’n voortgesette band met hul oorlede broer of suster, terwyl hu lle terselfdertyd nuwe rolle aanvaar het om die leemte van die oorledene te probeer vul. Bevindinge uit hierdie studie is bedoel om dieper insig te bied in die kompleksiteit van adolessente wat broers of susters verloor, en kan ook opvoedkundige en gesondheidsorgintervensies vir sodanige leerders in Suid-Afrika rig.