Death Of Family Member Research Articles

Household exposure to COVID‐19 and life insurance holdings

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in substantial loss of life and economic disruption, leading to a reevaluation of financial planning strategies. This paper examines the relationship between household exposure to COVID‐19 and their life insurance holdings using data from a nationwide household survey in the US. The results indicate that households diagnosed with COVID‐19 are more likely to own life insurance and hold a larger amount of coverage due to the pandemic, with these effects significantly influenced by the bequest motive. Conversely, hospitalization and the death of family members due to COVID‐19 are negatively correlated with life insurance holdings. The implications can inform household and industry decisions to enhance household financial welfare in response to pandemic risks.

Psychological effects of Manipur violence among the internally displaced persons residing in relief camps across Imphal valley of Manipur – A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Conflict and violence lead to the displacement of millions of people. A significant number of those who are exposed to potentially traumatic events, such as conflict and violence, may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health or behavioral conditions. This study plans to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among internally displaced persons residing in different relief camps during Manipur violence. Materials and Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in relief camps located in Imphal East District of Manipur using a pretested, semistructured, validated questionnaire consisting of PTSD checklist for DSM 5 (PCL-5) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorders Assessment tool (GAD-7). The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: More than half (65.8%) of the respondents were found to have PTSD. One-fourth of the respondents (24.8%) were found to have moderate anxiety, and 15.2% have severe anxiety. Female gender, age between 20 and 59 years, marital status, and employment status after conflict were found to be significantly associated with PTSD. Marital status and witnessed destruction of property were found to be significantly associated with GAD. Around 3/4th of the respondents (235, 75.8%) reported witnessing destruction and burning of property, and 29 (9.4%) reported witnessing death of family members or friends. Around 58 (18.7%) were currently separated from family, and 25 (8.1%) had experienced some kind of trauma at the time of displacement. Conclusion: A majority of the participants have PTSD, whereas 15.2% have severe anxiety. Efforts and interventions should be made to improve the psychological well-being through psychological support and counseling from mental health professionals and provision of vocational training for income generation for the IDPs.

“Every Day is like Hell": Civilian Abductees Released from Captivity in Gaza

Captivity, particularly in the context of civilian abduction, significantly affects the immediate and long-term psychological well-being of abductees. While most studies have concentrated on military captivity, the experiences of civilian abductees remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of adult citizens abducted during the Israel-Hamas War, as recounted in their initial press interviews upon their release. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researchers analyzed existing media interviews with 27 civilians aged 18 to 85, who were abducted from their homes during the war outbreak, held captive for 44 to 55 days, and subsequently released through negotiations. Analysis of the interviews revealed several key findings. The abductees faced traumatic events, including murder and life-threatening situations, which led to intense feelings of shock and resignation to the prospect of death. Their captivity involved a loss of autonomy, social isolation, unsanitary and humiliating conditions, and pervasive fear. Additionally, they experienced profound grief over the deaths of family members and uncertainty about the wellbeing of their friends and relatives. These factors collectively create an environment in which psychological trauma is inevitable. This study’s findings advance our understanding of loss and trauma in the context of civilian captivity, underscoring the complex psychological impact and highlighting the critical need for specialized, multifaceted interventions that address the unique challenges faced by abductees and their communities in the aftermath of such traumatic experiences.

KINGSTON’S THE WOMAN WARRIOR AND CHINA MEN: GENDERED CONSTRUCTION OF ABJECT THROUGH GHOSTS

The autobiographical works by Maxine Hong Kingston, The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts (1989) and China Men (1989), portray a gendered construction of the abject through the ghosts of Kingston’s deceased family members in the novels. As Chinese descendants, the family should uphold a tradition of honoring their dead, feeding them food, and remembering them. However, Kingston’s family in the novels rejects their ghosts instead because the dead are thought to bring shame and discomfort to the family, who are now living as Americans. We see such ambiguity where the ghosts are simultaneously seen as part of the family yet also discomforting as related to the abject. By utilizing the framework of feminist narratology and theories of abjection, we see that the family abjects them by forgetting and not acknowledging them. These ghosts are part of the family but simultaneously expelled as the abject. However, despite all of the ghosts being the abject, we argue that their individual abjections vary based on their gender where the female ghosts and male ghosts are abjected differently. We argue that the abject constructed through the female ghosts is portrayed as disobedient, disturbing borders, and traumatic, whereas through the male ghosts is portrayed as passively expelled from a place of power and silenced. Despite all of the deceased being treated as outcasts, we see that the deceased women are able to reclaim subjectivity through their abjection, whereas the abjection from the male ghosts reflects ambiguity.

Jewish women dermatologists who escaped the perils of National Socialism: Triumph over adversity

The period of National Socialism (1933-1945), including the Holocaust and World War II, has had a profound impact on dermatology. We have identified Jewish women dermatologists who escaped the perils of National Socialism, document their struggles, and describe their contribution to medicine and dermatology. Medical, history, and media databases were searched. Relevant contributions in languages other than English were translated into English. Fourteen dermatologists were identified, and for seven, there was sufficient information to describe their lives in more detail: Helen Ollendorff-Curth (née Ollendorff) (1899-1982), Bertha Ottenstein (1891-1956), Sidonie Fürst (1891-1973), Marianne Bauer (née Jokl) (1885-1980), Hedwig Fischer (née Hoffmann) (1888-1983), Vera Shukhman (1900-1987) and Lili Farkas (1899–1992). The challenges that confronted the dermatologists were sizeable. Status as a woman, antisemitism, persecution in various forms during National Socialism, murder of family and dermatology colleagues, untimely death of family members in other ways, loss of jobs and status, the stress of relocation, and myriad obstacles in a newly adopted country were among hurdles that they faced; nevertheless, collectively, the seven dermatologists could make a range of contributions in clinical, academic, and administrative areas. The dermatologists displayed courage, tenacity, and determination and served as role models of resilience for current and future generations of women in the dermatology field.

Knowledge and Willingness Toward Organ Donation Among DPT Students at Isra University (Hyderabad)

Organ donation (OD) is a complex issue involving social, legal, ethical, and medical aspects. The need for organ transplants has increased due to a rise in disorders linked to poor lifestyle choices; however, awareness and knowledge of organ donation remain extremely low, particularly among medical students. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and willingness toward organ donation among Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) students at Isra University in Hyderabad. A cross sectional study was conducted from July to September 2024, using a validated questionnaire and a sample of 100 DPT students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. Findings revealed that 79% of DPT students were aware of organ donation. Only 12% recognized eyes and 34% identified kidneys for donation. Awareness of Pakistan's organ donation laws was noted in just 54%. Misconceptions were prevalent, with 51% believing that only living individuals could donate. While 38% expressed willingness to donate after death, only 16% would consent to the donation of a deceased family member's organs. The study concluded that significant gaps in knowledge and willingness exist among DPT students, highlighting the need for comprehensive education and awareness campaigns tailored to cultural and religious beliefs.

Identifying the Pathogenic Variants in Heart Genes in Vietnamese Sudden Unexplained Death Victims by Next-Generation Sequencing.

In forensics, one-third of sudden deaths remain unexplained after a forensic autopsy. A majority of these sudden unexplained deaths (SUDs) are considered to be caused by inherited cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated 40 young SUD cases (<40 years), with non-diagnostic structural cardiac abnormalities, using Targeted NGS (next-generation sequencing) for 167 genes previously associated with inherited cardiomyopathies and channelopathies. Fifteen cases identified 17 variants on related genes including the following: AKAP9, CSRP3, GSN, HTRA1, KCNA5, LAMA4, MYBPC3, MYH6, MYLK, RYR2, SCN5A, SCN10A, SLC4A3, TNNI3, TNNI3K, and TNNT2. Of these, eight variants were novel, and nine variants were reported in the ClinVar database. Five were determined to be pathogenic and four were not evaluated. The novel and unevaluated variants were predicted by using in silico tools, which revealed that four novel variants (c.5187_5188dup, p.Arg1730llefsTer4 in the AKAP9 gene; c.1454A>T, p.Lys485Met in the MYH6 gene; c.2535+1G>A in the SLC4A3 gene; and c.10498G>T, p.Asp3500Tyr in the RYR2 gene) were pathogenic and three variants (c.292C>G, p.Arg98Gly in the TNNI3 gene; c.683C>A, p.Pro228His in the KCN5A gene; and c.2275G>A, p.Glu759Lys in the MYBPC3 gene) still need to be further verified experimentally. The results of our study contributed to the general understanding of the causes of SUDs. They provided a scientific basis for screening the risk of sudden death in family members of victims. They also suggested that the Targeted NGS method may be used to identify the pathogenic variants in SUD victims.

Physical symptoms in prolonged grief disorder: a case report.

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) was added as a new disorder to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) in 2022. PGD is defined as an intense yearning or longing for the deceased and preoccupation with thoughts or memories of the deceased. The official diagnostic criteria for PGD do not include physical symptoms, but it is sometimes associated with somatic symptoms. We present the case of a patient suffering from facsimile illness who lost her husband due to the deterioration of a brain tumor. She suffers from similar physical symptoms (severe headache reminiscent of a brain tumor, and hypertension) as her deceased husband. We focused on the dual process model in which grief exposure and behavioral activation began, ensuring an oscillation between loss-oriented grief (e.g., crying, feeling a continuing bond) and restoration-oriented grief (e.g., attending to life changes, new roles/identities/relationships). Outpatient psychotherapy based on the dual-process model of grief improved her physical symptoms. This case report highlights the physical symptoms experienced by those bereaved by a deceased loved one. Exposure therapy and behavioral activation approaches based on the dual-process model of grief response were effective in reducing the physical symptoms of facsimile illness. Physical symptoms in deceased family members triggered by bereavement are often overlooked and need to be recognized.

Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among war-affected internally displaced people in northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

People who are forced to leave home often experience emotional suffering and may be disproportionately subjected to risk factors for suicide. Although it is a grave concern for the global public health community, it has not been understood in Ethiopia. This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among war-affected internally displaced people in northwest Ethiopia, 2022. From 23 May to 22 June 2022, a cross-sectional study design was conducted, and a sample of 765 participants was selected through simple random sampling. A structured interview was employed to collect data. Suicidal ideation and attempts were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Out of 751 interviewed participants with a response rate of 98.2%, the magnitude of suicidal ideation and attempt was 22.4% (95% CI: 19.5%, 25.4%) and 6.7% (95% CI: 5.1%, 8.7%), respectively. People of female gender, having depression, family with a history of mental illness, and poor social support were significantly associated with both suicidal ideation and attempts. Furthermore, post-traumatic stress symptoms and the death of a family member were significantly associated with suicide ideation and attempt, respectively. At least one in five of the displaced people in this population had experienced suicide ideation, and one in fifteen had attempted suicide. Therefore, strengthening early detection and intervention for individuals is recommended, especially for females with depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, family with a history of mental illness, poor social support and the death of family members.

Impact of Covid-19 on Psychosocial Well-Being of School-Going Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The mandated closure of schools due to Covid-19 is likely to have a negative impact on school-going children. This study aimed to assess the psychosocial well-being of school children during the pandemic in eastern India. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient pediatric department of tertiary care teaching hospitals. Children between the ages of 4 and 14 were enrolled. The main outcome measures included the Emotional Symptoms Scale, Conduct Problem Scale, Hyperactivity Scale, Peer Problem Scale, and Prosocial Scale from the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), as well as the Children's Hope Scale. Out of 169 children aged 4-14, 104 (61.5%) were male, 140 (82.8%) were from urban areas, 66 (39.1%) had a family member who was a healthcare worker or frontline worker, and 12 (7.1%) had experienced the death of a family member due to Covid-19. Anxiety-related and depressive symptoms were observed in 81 (47.9%) and 70 (41.4%) children, respectively. Psychosocial difficulties with a 'clinically significant problem likely' were observed in 26 (15.4%) children, more common in males (16.35%, P=0.035) and older children (12-14 years). Children from families with healthcare/frontline workers, Covid-affected families, loss of job in the earning member, and uninvolved parenting style were associated with more psychosocial difficulties. The mean (SD) hope score was 22.46 ± 6.42 in children above eight years. The psychosocial well-being of school-going children is adversely affected during Covid-19, particularly in families with frontline workers, loss of job, and death of family members due to Covid-19. The poor hope score in children aged 8 years and above indicates an adverse impact on their ability to achieve future goals.

Mortality and mobility: understanding the impact of family member death on post-disaster mobility

Mortality and mobility: understanding the impact of family member death on post-disaster mobility

Mapping the Memory of Armed Conflict through Cancer in Gabriela Ybarra’s El comensal and Héctor Abad Faciolince’s El olvido que seremos

This study examines how Spanish author Gabriela Ybarra and Colombian Héctor Abad Faciolince tackle the parallel deaths of family members due to cancer and to the violence of armed conflict in their autobiographical novels El comensal (Spain, 2015) and El olvido que seremos (Colombia, 2006), respectively. Looking beyond the trope of cancer as metaphor, Ybarra and Abad Faciolince employ medical language to articulate the intergenerational mysteries surrounding instances of untimely death within their families. Cancer, thus, moves beyond a metaphor for violence and destruction, becoming a mode of representation for studying and articulating the unknown.

고령자 웰다잉을 위한 법제 개선 방안 (4)

This paper deals with the topic of so-called education about death or preparation for death. This paper, as part of the studies from a legal perspective on the well-dying of the elderly, aims to analyze the current status of legislation and operation related to death (preparation) education and seek improvement points. The Elderly experience so-called ‘death anxiety’, where they feel fear and stress about their own death through the death of family members and relatives. The purpose of death education is to alleviate and resolve this ‘death anxiety’ through understanding the process and nature of death, to rediscover the value and meaning of life, and to have a positive attitude toward the remaining life and the future. Through death education, it becomes possible to exercise the correct ‘right to self-determination’ to independently decide how to end one’s life. This paper reviews the legal and institutional status of death education. The death education for the elderly is carried out as part of elderly education or leisure activities at leisure welfare facilities for the elderly (for example, welfare center for senior citizens, center for senior citizens, educational courses for senior citizens, etc.) under the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act. In addition, Jeju Island is the first and currently only local government in Korea to enact and implement an ordinance on death education. This paper proposes the following as a legal and institutional improvement plan for death education. First, it is necessary to systematically legislate various matters related to death education for the elderly. Next is to improve the death education contents delivery system for the elderly. Lastly, it is required to classify the subjects of death education by age and provide education contents appropriate for each age group, thereby promoting death education for the elderly and institutionalizing death education for youth.

The influence of Afrikaans on naming among the Basotho of South Africa

Names are important in our daily lives. They are not just labels used for the owners, but have cultural and traditional connotations in the African context. Names are used to identify their bearers. Names are cryptic, terse statements that act as discourses expressing people’s life experiences. To Africans, the meanings of personal names include the name-bearers’ and name-givers’ aspirations, anxieties and goals. This article uses sociocultural theory with the aim to analyse the influence of Afrikaans on personal names given to Basotho in South Africa. This article followed a qualitative research approach and a case study design, where purposive sampling was used to collect data through semi-structured interviews with four people who identify as Basotho. Content analysis was used to look at the data. This article comes to the conclusion that the names Oupa, Ouma, Papi, and Mamikie are given in honour of parents and grandparents since the Basotho believe that they cannot use the name of an elderly person, especially those that have passed away. Such names are also given based on such families’ belief that their deceased family members live on through their children, hence naming them after the deceased.

"People Would Come Up and Look in Your Window and Holler and See if You Was Still Alive": Recollections of the 1918 Pandemic

Abstract: In exploring children's experiences during the 1918 influenza pandemic in the United States, Janet Golden underscores the importance of recognizing the personal nature of all pandemics. Oral histories, newspaper reports, and government records shed light on the distinctive and significant challenges endured by children during the pandemic. These experiences were not exactly the same as that of adults: Illness, fear, the deaths of family members and caregivers, interruptions to their daily lives, and loss of educational opportunities were distinctly different for children. Despite their limitations, oral histories offer valuable insights into the cultural, social, and medical consequences of the 1918 pandemic for children. Golden also finds a distinct contrast in the public memory of the "forgotten pandemic" of 1918 and the scores of public tributes to the crisis of World War I. Numerous memorials and cultural references recognize the hardships of the Great War, but there are no memorials and references to the tragedies of the 1918 influenza pandemic. In conclusion, Golden notes the historical importance of specifically focusing on the experiences of children to help to highlight the long-term consequences when such crises define the experience of a generation. She urges the collecting of young people's experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help to understand its influence on this generation's future.

BENEFITS OF SADAQAH JARIYA IN A ISLAMIC RELIGION PERSPECTIVE

Sadaqah is any voluntary act of righteousness or kindness that is made with no expectation for anything in return. There is no minimum amount of Sadaqah that must be given and no requirement to give regularly. Sadaqah can be split into two further acts of kindness, Sadaqah itself, which is considered a short-term gesture and Sadaqah Jariyah, which is a gesture that gives long-term. There is no requirement to what you need to do to fulfil Sadaqah, meaning that something as simple as sharing your knowledge in Islam can be a gesture that continues to give. Sadaqah Jariyah differs slightly from Sadaqah. While Sadaqah Jariyah is still a voluntary form of charity like Sadaqah, it must have a lasting impact on the receiver. To that end, examples of Sadaqah Jariyah include planting a resourceful tree, such as fruit trees or contributing towards the building of water wells, schools, or hospitals . What's beautiful about Sadaqah Jariyah is, you can donate on behalf of someone, whether it's for someone alive or a deceased family member. For your loved ones, they will be rewarded in their graves and in the hereafter as if it was a deed they've performed when they were alive.

A Reconciliation with Reality and Self-preservation

ABSTRACT The untimely loss of a loved one is an excruciating ordeal. Renowned Victorian Scottish writer George MacDonald was obliged to face the recurring early deaths of family members all his lifetime. Drawing from the background of Victorian literature and his working experience in church, he forges a reconciliation with reality and realizes his self-preservation through religion. His masterpiece, At the Back of the North Wind, is the reflection of his life sufferings, inner world, and way of reconciliation with reality. By examining the characterization of Diamond and North Wind, two leading characters in the book, and the employment of his unique literary technique, this article aims to reveal his motivation in portraying the protagonist of the book—Diamond, a poor little boy living in London, and conclude MacDonald’s means of self-preservation, i.e., interpretation of early death: those who pass away at a young age are angels from heaven. After fulfilling their earthly missions, they return to a better realm they inherently belong to—Heaven. Hence, earthly life is only a fragment of human beings’ existence. MacDonald’s coming to terms with bereavement while facing death holds practical significance today, especially for the people suffering from the loss of loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The digitally manipulated family photograph: MyHeritage’s ‘Deep Nostalgia’, and the extended temporality of the photographic image

This article examines how the digitally manipulated family photograph functions as a means of understanding the temporal instability of the use and interpretations of photographic images. It begins by taking a close look at scholarly debates on how ‘credible’ the documentary value of a still photograph is, as well as how it is able to emotionally resonate with spectators. From this discussion, it becomes important to look at a key example of how an image can produce an emotional effect on a viewer; in this case, photographs of individuals’ deceased family members. While exploring how this allows the spectator to reconnect with their relatives, it is also crucial to acknowledge that readings of images like these are often determined by reductive interpretations of their stillness. As the consideration of photographs as ‘documents’ has been contested for an extensive amount of time, it is illuminating to turn to the properties of digital photography by inspecting the photo manipulation feature ‘Deep Nostalgia’ on the MyHeritage app that circulated around TikTok in 2021. I look at a YouTube compilation of people reacting to seeing photographs of their family manipulated in a way that gives the impression that they are moving and emoting, alongside discussions about this in recent pop culture articles. By taking a Barthesian reading of the extended temporality of these family photographs, it is important to recognise that the connection between the subject and the image is severed both iconically and indexically from its original context. However, by understanding this photographic image in the context of being digital it must be understood differently. I will therefore use the MyHeritage phenomenon as a means of arguing that the digital image is not inferior to the ‘realism’ of analogue photography and must, instead, be read in relation to the history of technological change.

A family member's death increases religious activity: Evidence from Germany

AbstractReligiosity influences economic behavior in various domains, but what determines religiosity? Using data from the representative Socio‐Economic Panel Study for Germany (SOEP), this paper shows that religious activity increases after a family member's death. The life event's effect is larger after a partner's death when compared to a parent's death. Our results indicate that the influence of a family member's death on religious activity is temporary and are consistent with the religious coping hypothesis.

Family Member Deaths and the Risk of Obesity Among American Young Adults

Family Member Deaths and the Risk of Obesity Among American Young Adults