Childhood bereavement after the death of a sibling

Abstract

The article describes a study designed to explore the processes of sibling bereavement and to compare children's impressions with those of their parents. The Institute of Medicine model was used as a sensitizing framework for the study. Constant comparative technique was used to analyze data from a pilot study of 18 bereaved siblings aged 4 to 23 years. Sadness was the most common reaction after sibling death. Mothers were most often cited as being helpful; friends and fathers were also helpful. People who were not actively supportive were not helpful. Many children described feeling protective of their parents, and several children described personal growth.