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

In this Practice Inquiry, Mexican American parents' perceptions of cultural influences on grieving the death of their child were described. Findings were used to inform a continuing education module for nurses involved in the care of Mexican American parents who have experienced the death of their child. This line of inquiry is important as the needs of grieving Mexican American parents are not always recognized by those providing care. Ethnographic methodology was used to explore the narratives of three Mexican American fathers and three Mexican American mothers who had experienced the death of their child. A purposive sample was recruited from a faith based community health center in Tucson, AZ. In depth interviews were conducted primarily in the participants' homes by the researcher. All interviews were conducted in Spanish language. Data sources included participant interviews, participant observation, field notes and measures for demographic data and acculturation (ARSMA-II).The overarching cultural theme that represents the participants' perspectives is El Dolor de los Padres: Pain in the Parent. The three major themes that support the overarching cultural theme include: (a) Enduring Great Pain, (b) Voices of Mexican American Parents, and (c) Cultural Death Traditions. The fourth major theme, Going Forward: For the Provider specifically addresses data gathered to educate nurses for supporting Mexican American parents grieving the death of a child. The findings of the study are interpreted within the context of the Mexican cultural concepts of familismo, machismo, marianismo, fatalismo, spiritualidad, respeto, confianza and personalismo and the concept of vulnerability.The study's significance for the practice of nursing is upheld in the findings that are specific to understanding and preventing disparities in the care of Mexican American parents who have experienced the death of a child. Increasing nursing knowledge of the cultural context of grieving, especially spiritualidad and continuing memories, offering culturally competent nursing interventions at this time of deep emotional pain are elucidated in this Practice Inquiry.

The study examined the long-term effects of a death of a child on a variety of parental psychological and physical outcomes, incorporating several methodological and conceptual innovations over previous research. Prior bereavement research typically has focused on functioning within a short time period after the death and often has utilized self-selected samples of grieving parents; thus current models of grief may be inadequate. In contrast, this study broadened the timeframe in which bereavement is studied (average time since death= 20 years), and examined a sample of bereaved parents who were not self-selected. Participants were members of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (713 bereaved and 713 non-bereaved parents) who were assessed in 1957, 1975/77, and 1992/94 and were matched on family of origin demographic variables. Results show that bereaved parents reported a higher sense of purpose in life than non-bereaved parents. Further, higher levels of purpose in life was associated with lower levels of depression in bereaved parents, and with lower levels of physical illness in bereaved men. As expected, bereaved parents exhibited higher levels of depression than non-bereaved parents. For bereaved women, having someone with whom to share private thoughts and feelings was correlated with higher levels of depression, indicating that social support may be sought when functioning is poor. Higher job satisfaction was associated with lower levels of depression in bereaved women suggesting that role variegation is a factor promoting resiliency. Further, having another child after the death of a child was associated with lower levels of depression for bereaved women. Contrary to expectations, having other children in the home at the time of death was associated with lower social support and higher divorce rates for bereaved women. In sum, the current study suggests that the negative effects of the death of a child are longstanding. Several factors (e.g., purpose in life, role variegation) may promote resiliency and thus merit more scientific study and clinical attention.

The purpose of the project is to evaluate various pastoral care methods which are employed to assist parents whose child has died in traumatic circumstances. In the light of this evaluation, then to propose an alternative approach which the pastor can exercise to support and help bereaved parents. This thesis considered the variety of pastoral care methods by means of a literature review. A questionnaire was then sent to pastors from different denominations. The information gleaned from completed questionnaires was used to prepare a review of pastoral care at “ground level”, that is to form an idea of how the general run of pastors dealt with such cases. In addition, a number of parents were interviewed with regard to their experience of the pastoral care which they received when their child had died in traumatic circumstances. The outcome of the thesis suggests that the perceptions of pastors and parents differed widely as to what constituted appropriate pastoral care. This study seeks to address this discrepancy and to formulate a proposed pastoral care method which can be used by any pastor in the event of the traumatic death of a child. The applicability of this thesis is somewhat limited by the fact that the sample used is relatively small. As a consequence other areas and communities might produce a different result. / Dissertation (MA (Theology) : Practical Theology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

This qualitative study sought to understand how Emotionally Focused Therapists (EFT) apply the EFT model with couples that have experienced the death of a child. Criterion sampling and snowball sampling were used to recruit participants within the United States and internationally. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 5 participants, all of whom were women therapists. The data were analyzed using the Grounded Theory Method and two processes emerged. To convey and organize the processes and concepts of each, two diagrams of the actions and experiences noted in the interviews during analysis were created (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Figure 1 represents an external, multi-directional process of how EFT clinicians apply the EFT model with their clients. This figure encompasses 'how' clinicians adjust their approach to the model to meet the needs of their clients and work with couples that have experienced the death of a child. Figure 2 represents an internal process model of how applying the EFT model impacts the therapist on a personal level. This will be discussed through a self-of-the-therapist lens. / Master of Science

Background: The death of a child can be a devastating experience for many parents; research suggests it results in an intense and enduring grief which can negatively impact on parents' psychological well-being. Parents with surviving children face the task of navigating their own grief and continuing to parent. Surviving children's responses to the loss of a sibling is complex and sometimes problematic; it is suggested that family functioning is a key aspect of the sibling's response. Psychological literature shows that sibling bereavement has been under-researched (Woodrow, 2007) with little attention given to the quality of the emotional relationship between parent and child, before and after sibling loss. Aims: Research to explore the stories of bereaved parents and how they experienced their emotional relationship with their surviving children after the death of another child can build on and expand existing literature; resulting in suggestions for clinical psychologist on how to better support surviving relationships at this difficult time. Methodology: Qualitative methods allow for richness, context and allow parents to tell stories of their emotional relationships with surviving children. Stories are the way in which we give order and meaning to the events in our lives (Gilbert, 2010). Consequently, a narrative analysis was viewed as the most epistemologically and ethically appropriate research method; and most appropriate to answer the research question. Analysis and Findings: Parents told stories of connection and disconnection in their emotional relationship with their surviving children after the death of another child in the family. Emotional connection and disconnection is influenced by the competing and potentially incompatible tasks of 'parenting' and 'grieving'. Stories of connection with surviving children were constructed as 'putting my living children first' and 'avoiding the fog' of grief; these stories illustrated less connection to the deceased child and parental grief. Conversely, stories of disconnection with surviving children were constructed as getting 'stuck in the fog' of grief and 'remembering'; these stories illustrated more connection to the deceased child and parental grief.

Bereaved parents face many challenges after the death of their child and often turn to professional support services, including the field of social work for support and assistance. In the field of social work, there is not a lot of research and education regarding bereaved parents. Through a critical discourse analysis (CDA), academic social work materials are analyzed to gain a basis for understanding how social work students are educated about bereaved parents, as this impacts social work students’ future practice with bereaved parents. The CDA reveals that there are several hidden discourses of ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ grief, which marginalize, ostracize and pathologize bereaved parents. There are also discourses of expertise, both the bereaved parent as the expert and the social worker as the expert. The discourse that bereaved parents are experts is less common. Implications of all of these discourses for social work practice is discussed. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references.

The diploma thesis titled " Child palliative care from a child nurse's perspective" responds to the current state of child palliative care in society. The aim of the work was to map childhood palliative care from the viewpoint of child nurses based on theoretical background. The thesis was elaborated as theoretical using the method of synthesis, explanation and comparison. The chapter titled Child Palliative Care has described what child care palliative care is and what it does. In addition, there have been described diseases that can be found in palliative care, as well as principles, levels and forms of child palliative care, pain, dying and death. However, the child's family in palliative care and the nurse's role in this care have not been omitted. In the second chapter entitled Child Palliative Care in the Czech Republic, the current state of child palliative care in our country, obstacles and accessibility were described,. Further, all three conferences that took place in our country and all the hospices that specialize in children and their visions in our country were described in the chapter. In the last chapter entitled Child Palliative Care in the World, the development of the hospice movement in the world, the development and the current state of child palliative care outside the territory of the Czech Republic were described. The work could serve as a comprehensive source of information on child palliative care. It could also serve as a basis for creating articles, new research or new theories.

This qualitative study focuses on the stories of a bereaved couple living with the death of two of their children. The effect of the children's death on the parents is explored, as well as the way in which the parents live with the death of their two sons. The stories of the bereaved couple show their courage and resilience in continuing with their lives, maintaining their bond with their deceased sons and trying to make meaning of their death. As a study in practical theology and pastoral care one aim of this study was to help transform the lives of the parents for the better. In one of the chapters of the research report a study of some literature on bereavement and the death of children is presented. Dominant cultural discourses about death, bereavement, grief and mourning are discussed, as well as voices protesting against these discourses. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)