Parental Perceptions of Surviving Sibling Grief Responses to an Adolescent's Violent and Sudden Death by the Sewol Ferry Disaster in South Korea.

The aim of this study was to provide empirical descriptions of responses to the death of a sibling to the sinking of the Sewol ferry in South Korea. 16 bereaved parents are interviewed regarding their surviving children's grief responses at approximately 2 years after the death. The surviving siblings described by the bereaved parents are 14 in total, including 8 teens in their 10s and 4 young adults in their 20s. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis method. The following themes emerged: (a) negative behavioral changes, (b) expressions of grief, (c) change in relationship with parents, (d) school adjustment problems, and (e) social changes. Unique aspects of the grief responses among the surviving siblings in this study are noted. Discussions and implications are provided based on the results.

Culture-related grief beliefs of Chinese Shidu parents: Development and psychometric properties of a new scale.

Background: In China, parents whose only-child dies and who have no living or adopted child are called Shidu parents. Negative thinking is assumed to contribute to the development of emotional problems in bereavement. Because grief cognitions are likely influenced by the concepts of Chinese traditional culture (e.g., family continuation), Shidu parents may hold specific culture-related grief beliefs about themselves or the world, which, in turn, could impede their recovery. Objective: This study developed a questionnaire assessing the culture-related grief beliefs of Shidu parents and examined its psychometric properties. Methods: This newly developed questionnaire was administered to the combined sample of 313 Shidu parents. Exploratory (n = 164) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 149) were conducted. Psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed three distinct factors (filial piety belief, destiny belief and perceived stigma), generating a nine-item culture-related grief beliefs of Shidu parents questionnaire (CBSQ). Confirmatory factor analysis verified the three-factor structure (χ2(24) = 39.103, p = 0.027, χ2/df = 1.630, CFI = .980, TLI = .970, RMSEA = .065, SRMR = .052). Internal consistency and temporal stability were adequate. Convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity were supported. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of extending the concept of grief cognitions to include culture-specific beliefs, and provides a first measurement tool to assess culture-related grief beliefs after only-child loss, which can be used in future research with Shidu parents.

Antecedentes: En China, los padres quienes fallece su único hijo y no tienen hijos vivos o adoptados son llamados padres Shidu. Se asume que el pensamiento negativo contribuye a problemas emocionales en el duelo. Dado que las cogniciones del duelo son probablemente influenciadas por los conceptos de la cultura tradicional China (por ejemplo, continuación de la familia), los padres Shidu pueden mantener creencias del duelo específicas relacionadas a la cultura acerca de sí mismos o el mundo, las cuales, a su vez, podrían impedir su recuperación.Objetivo: Este estudio desarrolló un cuestionario de evaluación de las creencias del duelo relacionadas a la cultura de los padres Shidu y examinó sus propiedades psicométricas.Métodos: Este cuestionario recientemente desarrollado fue administrado a la muestra combinada de 313 padres Shidu. Se realizaron análisis factoriales exploratorio (n=164) y confirmatorio (n=149). Se evaluó las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario.Resultados: El análisis factorial exploratorio reveló tres factores distintos (creencia de devoción filial, creencia en el destino y estigma percibido), generando un cuestionario de 9 ítems de creencias del duelo relacionadas a la cultura en padres Shidu (CBSQ, por su sigla en inglés). El análisis de factores confirmatorio verificó la estructura de tres factores (χ2(24) = 39.103, p= 0.027, χ2/df = 1.630, CFI = .980, TLI = .970, RMSEA = .065, SRMR = .052). La consistencia interna y estabilidad temporal fueron adecuadas. Fueron corroboradas la validez convergente, discriminante y concurrente.Conclusiones: Este estudio destaca la importancia de extender el concepto de cogniciones del duelo para incluir creencias específicas a la cultura, y provee una primera herramienta de medición para evaluar las creencias del duelo específicas a la cultura luego de la pérdida de un hijo único, el que puede ser usado en investigaciones futuras con padres Shidu.

Dyadic coping mediates the relationship between parents' grief and dyadic adjustment following the loss of a child.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine forms of dyadic coping (DC) as mediators of the association between parents' grief response and dyadic adjustment and to determine whether these indirect effects were moderated by the child's type of death, timing of death, and age. DESIGN: The study design was cross-sectional. METHOD: The sample consisted of 197 bereaved parents. Participants completed the Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Dyadic Coping Inventory. RESULTS: Significant indirect effects of parents' grief response on dyadic adjustment were found through stress communication by oneself and by the partner, positive and negative DC by the partner, and joint DC. The timing of death moderated the association between grief response and dyadic adjustment and between joint DC and dyadic adjustment. Grief response was negatively associated with dyadic adjustment only when the death occurred after birth. Grief response was negatively associated with joint DC, which, in turn, was positively associated with dyadic adjustment, when the death occurred both before and after birth. However, the association was stronger in the latter. CONCLUSIONS: Specific forms of DC might be mechanisms through which grief response is associated with dyadic adjustment and should be promoted in clinical practice.

After the MV Estonia ferry disaster A Swedish nationwide survey of the relatives of the MV Estonia victims.

Just after midnight on the 28th of September 1994, the Estonian-flagged ro-ro passenger ferry MV Estonia was shipwrecked on its route between Tallinn and Stockholm. Out of about 1000 persons on board only 137 survived. This paper describes the work that the Psychiatric Clinic at Ersta Hospital performed with the relatives of the MV Estonia victims after the disaster, in addition, we present data from seven consecutive Swedish nationwide surveys based on a questionnaire, which started as a correspondence between the hospital and the relatives of the Estonia victims. Findings concerning the care relatives received and issues regarding their collaboration with the decisionmaking authorities are presented. The importance of inviting the relatives to participate in discussions concerning the Estonia victims is stressed.