Adult Grief Reactions Following a Sibling's Death From AIDS

Abstract

The AIDS epidemic has resulted in an unprecedented death toll among young adults, many of whom are survived by siblings. Whereas the circumstances surrounding deaths from AIDS place survivors at risk for intense bereavement, no reported studies have examined the pattern or intensity of grief among adult siblings. One hundred and two adults who had experienced the death of a sibling from AIDS were recruited into this study in which grief reactions were measured using the Grief Experience Inventory. Time since the sibling's death ranged from 3 months to 11 years. Grief reactions were found to exceed those previously reported. A positive relationship was found between the level of closeness of the survivor to the deceased and the intensity of grief reactions. No relationship was found between time since the sibling's death and intensity of grief.