Childhood bereavement : an application of the stress and coping paradigm

• Main Author: Del Vasto, Rosalie
• Other Authors: Derevensky, Jeffrey L. (advisor)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: McGill University 1993
• Subjects: Bereavement in children
• Online Access: http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=69552

The existing literature on childhood bereavement reactions and sequelae is integrated within the Stress and Coping Paradigm to demonstrate its functional utility. The coping resources (i.e., psychological and social resources) and coping efforts of seventeen (8 male, 9 female) children who experienced the death of a loved one were assessed and compared with standardized norms. Results suggest that children who experienced bereavement did not significantly differ from typical children on measures of psychological resources (Self-Perception Profile for Children and Assessment of Coping Style) and on measures of coping effort (Coping Inventory). However, differences were found on a measure of social resource (Family Environment Scale). When compared with the norm group, children who experienced bereavement scored significantly higher on the Cohesion, Expressiveness, Conflict and Control subscales, and significantly lower on the Achievement Orientation subscale. The data are analyzed and discussed with reference to mediating factors including time elapsed since the death, relationship to the deceased and mode of death. Implications for health care professionals are discussed.