Helping Parents with Grieving Children

Update

Alvis, L., Zhang, N., Sandler, I. N., & Kaplow, J. B. (2022). Developmental Manifestations of Grief in Children and Adolescents: Caregivers as Key Grief Facilitators. Journal of child & adolescent trauma, 16(2), 447-457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-021-00435-0

Breen, L. J., Greene, D., Rees, C. S., Black, A., Cawthorne, M., & Egan, S. J. (2023). A co-designed systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of grief interventions for anxiety and depression in young people. Journal of affective disorders, 335, 289-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.032

Burns, M., Landry, L., Mills, D., Carlson, N., Blueford, J. M., & Talmi, A. (2023). COVID-19 pandemic's disproportionate impact on childhood bereavement for youth of color: Reflections and recommendations. Frontiers in pediatrics, 11, 1063449. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.1063449

Clarke, T., & Connolly, M. (2022). Parent's Lived Experience of Memory Making With Their Child at or Near End of Life. The American journal of hospice & palliative care, 39(7), 798-805. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211047838

Dotti Sani, G. M., Molteni, F., & Sarti, S. (2023). Boys Do Cry: Age and Gender Differences in Psycho-Physiological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy. Applied research in quality of life, 18(2), 931-956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-022-10120-5

Espinosa Dice, A. L., Ye, X., Kim, S. G., McLaughlin, K. A., Amstadter, A. B., Tiemeier, H., & Denckla, C. A. (2023). Resilient phenotypes among bereaved youth: a comparison of trajectory, relative, and cross-domain approaches. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 17(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00568-0

Macdonald, M., Thompson, D., Perry, R., & Brooks, R. (2022). Comparing asphyxia and unexplained causes of death: a retrospective cohort analysis of sleep-related infant death cases from a state child fatality review programme. BMJ open, 12(9), e059745. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059745

Malik, F., & Marwaha, R. (2022). Developmental Stages of Social Emotional Development in Children. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.

Phoa, P. K. A., Ab Razak, A., Kuay, H. S., Ghazali, A. K., Ab Rahman, A., Husain, M., Bakar, R. S., & Abdul Gani, F. (2023). Predictors of Mental Health Literacy among Parents, Guardians, and Teachers of Adolescents in West Malaysia. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(1), 825. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010825

Van Dijk, I., Boelen, P. A., de Keijser, J., & Lenferink, L. I. M. (2023). Assessing DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 prolonged grief disorder in children and adolescents: development of the Traumatic Grief Inventory - Kids - Clinician-Administered. European journal of psychotraumatology, 14(2), 2197697. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2197697

Zhang, T., Krysinska, K., Alisic, E., & Andriessen, K. (2023). Grief Instruments in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Omega, 302228231171188. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231171188

Zhang, Z., Liu, H., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Marital Loss and Cognitive Function: Does Timing Matter?. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, 77(10), 1916-1927. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac069

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article References:
Allen, B., Oseni, A., & Allen, K. E. (2012). The evidence-based treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic grief in an adolescent: A case study. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 4(6), 631–639. 

Bellet, B. W., LeBlanc, N. J., Nizzi, M.-C., Carter, M. L., van der Does, F. H. S., Peters, J., Robinaugh, D. J., & McNally, R. J. (2020). Identity confusion in complicated grief: A closer look. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129(4), 397–407.

Connolly, J. (2007). Murder-suicide [Editorial]. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 28(3), 111–112. 

Daigle, M. S., & Labelle, R. J. (2012). Pilot evaluation of a group therapy program for children bereaved by suicide. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 33(6), 350–357.

Diminich, E. D., & Bonanno, G. A. (2014). Faces, feelings, words: Divergence across channels of emotional responding in complicated grief. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123(2), 350–361. 

Domino, J. L., Whiteman, S. E., Davis, M. T., Witte, T. K., & Weathers, F. W. (2020). Sudden unexpected death as a traumatic stressor: The impact of the DSM–5 revision of Criterion A for posttraumatic stress disorder. Traumatology. Advance online publication. 

Eisma, M. C., Stroebe, M. S., Schut, H. A. W., Stroebe, W., Boelen, P. A., & van den Bout, J. (2013). Avoidance processes mediate the relationship between rumination and symptoms of complicated grief and depression following loss. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(4), 961–970. 

Goetter, E. M., Mauro, C. M., Qiu, X., Skritskaya, N. A., Reynolds, C. F. III, Zisook, S., Shear, M. K., & Simon, N. M. (2018). Treatment expectancy and working alliance in pharmacotherapy as predictors of outcomes in complicated grief. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(4), 367–371.

Grassetti, S. N., Williamson, A. A., Herres, J., Kobak, R., Layne, C. M., Kaplow, J. B., & Pynoos, R. S. (2018). Evaluating referral, screening, and assessment procedures for middle school trauma/grief-focused treatment groups. School Psychology Quarterly, 33(1), 10–20.

Griese, B., Burns, M. R., Farro, S. A., Silvern, L., & Talmi, A. (2017). Comprehensive grief care for children and families: Policy and practice implications. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(5), 540–548. 

Grolnick, W. S., Schonfeld, D. J., Schreiber, M., Cohen, J., Cole, V., Jaycox, L., Lochman, J., Pfefferbaum, B., Ruggiero, K., Wells, K., Wong, M., & Zatzick, D. (2018). Improving adjustment and resilience in children following a disaster: Addressing research challenges. American Psychologist, 73(3), 215–229. 

Hanoch, Y. (2007). Terminally ill patients and volunteer support: Is it the right intervention? Health Psychology, 26(5), 537–538. 

Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer Support, Marital Status, and the Survival Times of Terminally Ill Patients. Health Psychology, 24(2), 225–229.

Howard Sharp, K. M., Russell, C., Keim, M., Barrera, M., Gilmer, M. J., Foster Akard, T., Compas, B. E., Fairclough, D. L., Davies, B., Hogan, N., Young-Saleme, T., Vannatta, K., & Gerhardt, C. A. (2018). Grief and growth in bereaved siblings: Interactions between different sources of social support. School Psychology Quarterly, 33(3), 363–371.

Jones, C., Foley, S., & Golombok, S. (2021). Parenting and child adjustment in families with primary caregiver fathers. Journal of Family Psychology.

Koocher, G. P. (1974). Talking with children about death. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 44(3), 404–411. 

Krantz, S. M., Yang, X., King, J., Kennard, B. D., Emslie, G. J., & Stewart, S. M. (2021). Validation of Fearlessness about Death Scale in adolescents. Psychological Assessment.

Mishara, B. L. (2003). How the media influences children's conceptions of suicide. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 24(3), 128–130. 

Nobes, G., Panagiotaki, G., & Russell Jonsson, K. (2019). Child homicides by stepfathers: A replication and reassessment of the British evidence. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 148(6), 1091–1102.

Ogińska-Bulik, N., & Michalska, P. (2020). Psychological resilience and secondary traumatic stress in nurses working with terminally ill patients—The mediating role of job burnout. Psychological Services. Advance online publication.

Olson-Garriott, A. N., Gamino, L. A., Davies, E. B., & Gudmundsdottir, M. (2015). Having or adopting another child: Perspectives from bereaved fathers. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 46(5), 317–324. 

Oosterhoff, B., Kaplow, J. B., & Layne, C. M. (2018). Links between bereavement due to sudden death and academic functioning: Results from a nationally representative sample of adolescents. School Psychology Quarterly, 33(3), 372–380.

Orbach, I., & Glaubman, H. (1979). Children's perception of death as a defensive process. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88(6), 671–674. 

Paluszny, M. (1979). Therapy of psychic trauma resulting from attempted filicide. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 16(1), 107–115. 

Petren, R. E., Lardier, D. T., Jr., Bible, J., Bermea, A., & van Eeden-Moorefield, B. (2019). Parental relationship stability and parent–adult child relationships in stepfamilies: A test of alternative models. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(2), 143–153. 

Review of Life & loss: A guide to help grieving children (2000). [Review of the book Life & loss: A guide to help grieving children (2nd ed.), by L. Goldman]. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 21(3), 141. 

Roth, B. (2015). Recovering memories of a murder by a child, or “getting away with murder”. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 32(1), 140–158. 

Salinas, C. L. (2021). Playing to heal: The impact of bereavement camp for children with grief. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(1), 40–49.

Sandler, I. N., Ma, Y., Tein, J.-Y., Ayers, T. S., Wolchik, S., Kennedy, C., & Millsap, R. (2010). Long-term effects of the family bereavement program on multiple indicators of grief in parentally bereaved children and adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 131–143. 

Schonfeld, D. J., & Demaria, T. P. (2018). The role of school psychologists in the support of grieving children. School Psychology Quarterly, 33(3), 361–362. 

Sierra Hernandez, C. A., Piper, W. E., Ogrodniczuk, J. S., Joyce, A. S., & Weideman, R. (2016). Use of referential language in short-term group psychotherapy for complicated grief. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 20(1), 1–15.

Stutey, D. M., Helm, H. M., LoSasso, H., & Kreider, H. D. (2016). Play therapy and photo-elicitation: A narrative examination of children’s grief. International Journal of Play Therapy, 25(3), 154–165. 

Talen, M. R. (2019). A silver lining playbook? My mom’s death. Families, Systems, & Health, 37(3), 260–262.

Thimm, J. C., & Holland, J. M. (2017). Early maladaptive schemas, meaning making, and complicated grief symptoms after bereavement. International Journal of Stress Management, 24(4), 347–367.

Thompson, A. L. (2017). The clinical challenge of adolescent grief: Comment on Zakreski (2017). Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 5(3), 282–284.

Yopp, J. M., Deal, A. M., Nakamura, Z. M., Park, E. M., Edwards, T., Wilson, D. R., Biesecker, B., & Rosenstein, D. L. (2019). Psychological and parental functioning of widowed fathers: The first two years. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(5), 565–574.

Zajac, L., & Boyatzis, C. J. (2020). Mothers’ perceptions of the role of religion in parent–child communication about a death in the family. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. Advance online publication. 

Additional References:
- Anastasi, JM, Ed. 2011. The Death of a Child, The Grief of the Parents: A Lifetime Journey (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University.

- Beynon, Ann; Overcoming Loss: Activities and Stories to Help  Transform Children’s Grief and Loss; British Journal of Guidance & Counseling; 2009-11; Vol. 37; Issue 4

- Brykczynska, Gosia; Grief in Young Children/Grief in Children; Paediatric Nursing; 2009-03; Vol. 21; Issue 2

- Busch, T & CS Kimble, Grieving children: are we meeting the challenge? Pediatric Nursing, Jul-Aug 2001, Vol. 27, Issue 4.

- Carmack, Heather J.; Degroot, Jocelyn M. Omega: Exploiting Loss? Ethical Considerations, Boundaries, and Opportunities for the Study of Death and Grief Online. Journal of Death & Dying. 2013, Vol. 68 Issue 4, p315-335. 21p. DOI: 10.2190/OM.68.4.b.

- Cox, Gerry R. Principles and Practices of Grief Counseling. Illness, Crisis & Loss. 2013, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p370-372. 3p.

- Emswiler, Mary Ann, M.A., M.P.S. & Emswiler, James P., M.A. M. ED.; "Guiding Your Child Through Grief"; Bantam Books; New York, NY; 2000.

- Fitzgerald, Helen; "The Grieving Child: A Parent’s Guide"; Simon & Schuster; New York, NY; 1992.

- Goldman, Linda; Counseling with children in contemporary society; Journal of Mental Health Counseling; Apr 2004; Vol. 26; Issue 2.

- Lenhardt, Ann Marie & Bernadette McCourt; Adolescent unresolved grief in response to the death of a mother; Professional School Counseling; Feb 2000; Vol. 3; Issue 3.

- McClatchey, Irene Searles, Elizabeth M. Vonk, Gregory Palardy; Efficacy of a Camp-Based Intervention for Childhood Traumatic Grief; Research on Social Work Practice; 2009-01; Vol. 19; Issue 1

- Nickerson, Angela; Liddell, Belinda J.; Maccallum, Fiona; Steel, Zachary; Silove, Derrick; Bryant, Richard A. Posttraumatic stress disorder and prolonged grief in refugees exposed to trauma and loss. BMC Psychiatry. 2014, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p1-19. 19p. 5 Charts, 1 Graph. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-14-106.

- Noppe, Illene & Lloyd Noppe; Adolescent experiences with death; letting go of immortality; Journal of Mental Health Counseling; Apr 2004; Vol. 26; Issue 2.

- Perry, Bruce; Children and loss; Scholastic Parent & Child; Oct/Nov 2000; Vol. 8; Issue 2.

- Perry, Bruce; Death & loss: helping children manage their grief; Early Childhood Today; Jan 2001; Vol. 15; Issue 4.

- Richardson, Meg; Cobham, Vanessa; McDermott, Brett; Murray, Judith. Youth Mental Illness and the Family: Parents' Loss and Grief. Journal of Child & Family Studies. Jul2013, Vol. 22 Issue 5, p719-736. 18p. 1 Chart. DOI: 10.1007/s10826-012-9625-x.

- Riches, Gordon & Pam Dawson; Daughters’ dilemmas: grief resolution in girls whose widowed fathers remarry early; Journal of Family Therapy; Nov 2000; Vol. 22; Issue 4.

- Schaefer, Dan, Ph.D. & Lyons, Christine, "How Do We Tell the Children?: A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children Two to Teen Cope When Someone Dies," New Market Press, New York, NY; 2001.

- Schoen, Alexis, Burgoyne, Megan, & Sharon Schoen; Are the developmental needs of children in America adequately addressed during the grief process?; Journal of Instructional Psychology; Jun 2004; Vol. 31; Issue 2.

- Shear, MD, M. Katherine, Angela Ghesquiere, PhD, and Kim Glickman, PhD, LCSW, Bereavement and Complicated Grief, National Institute of Health, November 2013, p1-13.

- Spuij, Mariken; Prinzie, Peter; Dekovic, Maja; den Bout, Jan van; Boelen, Paul A. The effectiveness of Grief-Help, a cognitive behavioural treatment for prolonged grief in children: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2013, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p1-19. 19p. DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-14-395.

- Stanton, J. and Simpson, A.;  "Murder Misdiagnosed as SIDS: A Perpetrators Perspective,"; ADC Online; 2000.

- Willis, Clarissa; The grieving process in children: strategies for understanding, educating, and reconciling children's perceptions of death; Early Childhood Education Journal; Jun 2002, Vol. 29; Issue 4.