Coping with parental death as seen from the perspective of children who attended a grief camp

Abstract

In this qualitative case study researchers interviewed 16 parentally bereaved children and their 11 surviving parents in order to conceptualize the emotional impact of losing a parent to death and to understand the possible influence of one bereavement program’s attempt to address these issues. An inductive constant comparative method was used to identify themes which were enriched through deductive computer assisted analysis. Themes presented by children and parents are discussed in terms of the emotional impact of the death and the influence of the program on each issue. Themes revealed were Sadness, Anger, Being Set Apart, Worries, Trauma, and Contemplation of Suicide.