When a family member dies, a bereavement period is taking place for all family members. The death of a parent during childhood is a highly stressful event. This study evaluates families’ experiences of family support groups when a parent has died. Families were participate in groups for children, teenagers, young adults, and parents in seven sessions. The same topic which was discussed in all groups. The support groups were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The participants were satisfied with the groups and experienced that the shared experience facilitated bereavement to proceed. The results indicate that families’ experiences is being more open about feelings in their own family. A support group can be one possibility to help the whole family in the bereavement.
BenkelIWijkHMolanderU. Managing grief and relationship roles influence which forms of social support the bereaved needs. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2009;26(4):241–245.
2.
Ribbens McArthyJJessopJ. Young People, Bereavement and Loss: Disruptive Transitions?London: NCB Books; 2005.
3.
StokesJ. Then, Now and Always: Supporting Children and Young People Through Grief: A Guide for Practitioners. Cheltenham: Winston Wish; 2004.
4.
BiankNMWerner-LinA. Growing up with grief: revisiting the death of a parent over the life course. Omega (Westport). 2011;63(3):271–290.
5.
RosnerRKruseJHaglM. A meta-analysis of interventions for bereaved children and adolescents. Death Stud. 2010;34(2):99–136.
6.
KenndyCMcIntyreRWorthAHoggR. Supporting children and families facing the death of a parent: part 1. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2008;14(4):162–168.
7.
Werner-LinAKiankN. Holding parents so they can hold their children: grief work with surviving spouses to support parentally bereaved children. Omega. 2012;66(1):1–16.
8.
Bylund-GrenkloTKreicbergsUValdimarsdottirUNybergTSteinbeckGFurstCJ. Self-injury in teenagers who lost a parent to cancer: a nationwide, population-based, long-term follow-up. JAMA Pedriatr. 2013;167(2):133–140.
9.
ChristGHChristAE. Current approaches to helping children cope with a parent’s terminal illness. CA Cancer J Clin. 2006;56(4):197–212.
10.
MelvinDLukemanD. Beraeavement: a framework for those working with children. Clin Child Psychol Paychiatry. 2005;5(4):521–539.
11.
BowlbyJ. Processes of mourning. Int J Psychoanal. 1961;42:317–340.
12.
KlassDSilvermanPRNickmanS. Continuing Bonds: New Understanding of Grief. New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; 1996.
13.
ChristG. Healing Children’s Grief: Surviving a Parent’s Death from Cancer. New York: Oxford University Press; 2000.
14.
PattersonPRangganadhanA. Losing a parent to cancer: a preliminary investigation into the needs of adolescents and young adults. Palliat Support Care. 2010;8(3):255–265.
15.
AumanJ. Bereavement support for children. J School Nurs. 2007;23(1):34–39.
16.
SandlerIWolchikSTeinJY. The family bereavement program: efficacy evaluation of a theory-based prevention program for parentally bereaved children and adolescents. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2003;71(3):587–600.
17.
GyllenswärdG. Chlidren’s Bereavement (in Swedish Barns sorg). Rädda banen förlag. Stockholm; 1997.
18.
GraneheimUHLundmanB. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today. 2004;24(2):105–112.
RollsLPayneSA. Children and young people’s experience of UK childhood bereavement services. Mortality. 2007;12(3):281–303.
21.
SandlerIAyersTTeinJY. Six-year follow-up of a preventive intervention for parentally bereaved youths. Arch Pediatric Adolescence. 2010;164(10):907–914.
22.
GlazerHClarkMDThomasRHaxtonH. Parenting after the death of a spouse. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2010;27(8):532–536.
23.
SchmiegeSKhooSTSandlerIAyersTWolchikS. Symptoms of internalizing and externalizing problems – Modeling recovery curves after the death of a parent. Am J Prev Med. 2006;31(6SI):152–260.
24.
HamdanSMazariegosDMelhemNPortaGWalker-PayneMBrentD. Effect of parental bereavement on health risk behaviours in youth: a 3-year follow-up. Arch Pediatric Adolescence. 2012;166(3):216–223.
25.
ZelenkoMBenhamA. Attachment theory, loss and trauma: a case study. Clinical Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2002;7(2):199–209.
26.
DyregrovKDyregrovA. Complicated grief in children–the perspective of experiences professionals. Omega. 2013;67(3):291–303.
27.
BoelenPPrigersonH. The influence of symptoms of prolonged grief disorder, depression, and anxiety on quality of life among bereaved adults. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007;257(8):444–452.
28.
LoveA. Progress in understanding grief, complicated grief, and caring for the bereaved. Contemporary Nurse. 2007;27(1):73–83.
