Showing papers in "Omega-journal of Death and Dying in 1992"
TL;DR: In this paper, a task-based approach for understanding and explicating coping with dying is proposed, focusing on four primary dimensions of coping: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual.
Abstract: This article proposes a task-based approach for understanding and explicating coping with dying. Four primary dimensions of coping with dying are outlined (the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual). These dimensions define four primary areas of task work in coping with dying. In addition, an argument is offered as to why this task-based approach should be adopted. That argument depends on remarks about the nature of coping and an analysis of four advantages that apply to a task-based approach (improved understanding, empowerment, participation, and guidance for helpers).
138 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the negative sequelae associated with death of a loved one are investigated, alluded to by existential and humanistic t... and the goal of the present study was to investigate the possibility that the positive sequelae can be avoided.
Abstract: Much research has documented the negative sequelae associated with death of a loved one. The goal of the present study was to investigate the possibility, alluded to by existential and humanistic t...
91 citations
TL;DR: Based on a model of bereavement guilt developed by the investigators, this paper assessed the frequency of guilt feelings, explored their sources, and compared the guilt experiences of parents who experienced bereavement.
Abstract: Based on a model of bereavement guilt developed by the investigators, this study assessed the frequency of guilt feelings, explored their sources, and compared the guilt experiences of parents whos...
80 citations
TL;DR: The notion of social death as being complementary to such concepts as “personhood” and “a worthwhile life” is presented and three examples of people likely to be seen as socially dead before they are biologically dead are presented.
Abstract: In this article the concept of social death as defined by authors from various disciplines is described within the framework of the transition from life to death. The notion of social death as being complementary to such concepts as “personhood” and “a worthwhile life” is presented. Three examples of people likely to be seen as socially dead before they are biologically dead are presented: those in the final stages of a lengthy terminal physical illness, the very old, and those suffering from loss of their essential personhood because of dementia or coma. The moral dimensions of the social death phenomenon and the implications for current medical practice are considered in the conclusion.
54 citations
TL;DR: The Two-track Model of Bereavement as mentioned in this paper suggests that response to loss can be more effectively assessed when both the behavioral-psychological functioning and the internalized relationship to the deceas...
Abstract: The Two-track Model of Bereavement suggests that response to loss can be more effectively assessed when both the behavioral-psychological functioning and the internalized relationship to the deceas...
51 citations
TL;DR: The relationship between religiosity and attitudes toward suicide was assessed in a sample of 186 Christian adults, most affiliated with churches or church-related organizations as mentioned in this paper, and a significant correlational pattern was obtained, such that persons higher on religiosity tended to perceive suicide as reflective of mental illness, as less of a cry for help, as not being an individual's prerogative, as highly related to a lack of religious influence, as “abnormal” behavior, as evidence of the aggressiveness of human nature, and as a moral evil not to be condoned.
Abstract: The relationship between religiosity and attitudes toward suicide was assessed in a sample of 186 Christian adults, most affiliated with churches or church-related organizations. A significant correlational pattern was obtained, such that persons higher on religiosity tended to perceive suicide as reflective of mental illness, as less of a cry for help, as not being an individual's prerogative, as highly related to a lack of religious influence, as “abnormal” behavior, as evidence of the aggressiveness of human nature, and as a moral evil not to be condoned.
51 citations
TL;DR: The authors suggest that families bereaved by suicide may receive and experience low levels of support and it is not clear, given the available data, whether there is a difference in the difference in...
Abstract: Current research tentatively suggests that families bereaved by suicide may receive and experience low levels of support. It is not clear, given the available data, whether there is a difference in...
50 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assess whether degree of belief in afterlife enhanced bereavement recovery following different types of death (suicide, homicide, accidental, and natural), 121 bereaved persons (31% of those ask...
Abstract: To assess whether degree of belief in afterlife enhanced bereavement recovery following different types of death (suicide, homicide, accidental, and natural), 121 bereaved persons (31% of those ask...
50 citations
TL;DR: Results from a three-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences between clinical specialty groups on any of the scales, and subsequent Tukey's HSD tests showed that older nurses and those with advanced degrees were more likely to agree with a patient's right to die under some conditions.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether nurses' attitudes toward suicide are based on clinical specialty, age, and highest degree completed. A systematic random sample of nurses registered in North Carolina was used. The instrument used was Domino's Suicide Opinion Questionnaire (SOQ), which consists of eight clinical scales. These scales were: suicide reflects mental illness; suicide threats are “not real,” i.e., a cry for help; the right to die; importance of religion; impulsivity; suicide is normal; suicide reflects aggression/anger; and suicide is morally bad. Results from a three-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences between clinical specialty groups on any of the scales. Age and degree were significant only on the right to die scale. Subsequent Tukey's HSD tests on these variables showed that older nurses and those with advanced degrees were more likely to agree with a patient's right to die under some conditions. A descriptive analysis of representative items from each scale was ...
48 citations
TL;DR: Most research has dealt with the bereaved person as an individual and ignored the context in which the person grieves as discussed by the authors, where the occurrence of a death in the family is experienced in various ways, depend...
Abstract: Most research has dealt with the bereaved person as an individual and ignored the context in which the person grieves. The occurrence of a death in the family is experienced in various ways, depend...
45 citations
TL;DR: A review of the literature on burnout and its prevention among caregivers to the dying is presented and a self-care wellness program is extracted from the various literature sources and provides what is thought to be an essential foundation to burnout prevention.
Abstract: A review of the literature on burnout and its prevention among caregivers to the dying is presented in this article. The literature shows that health care providers who work with the dying do experience many stressors unique to the specialty, but also many which are common to other health care workers. External and internal stressors common to this specialty field are summarized, and suggestions for reduction or elimination of these stressors are generated from the literature. A self-care wellness program is extracted from the various literature sources and provides what is thought to be an essential foundation to burnout prevention.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined four categories of activities reported in these: the deceased described the state of death, delivered messages to the living, sought to change the circumstances of their death, or gave loved ones a chance to say "goodbye".
Abstract: This study examined dreams about the dead. There were four categories of activities reported in these: the deceased described the state of death, delivered messages to the living, sought to change the circumstances of their death, or gave loved ones a chance to say ‘goodbye.’ Some of these categories occurred at a particular point in the grief process; others occurred at any time after the death. A remarkably large number of the dead telephoned. These dreams are discussed in terms of what they illuminate about attitudes toward mortality and loss.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the stress and coping levels of 108 older adults who recently lost their spouse with expectations of stress and cope with the loss reported by eighty-five matched non-bereaved controls.
Abstract: This investigation compared the stress and coping levels o f 108 older adults who recently lost their spouse with expectations of stress and coping reported by eighty-five matched nonbereaved controls. While the bereaved reported moderately high stress levels over two years, their stress scores were lower and their coping scores were higher than what the nonbereaved anticipated their levels would be if their spouse died. The findings are consistent with evidence that is beginning to emerge in bereavement literature that demonstrates resiliency on the part of those who have suffered a loss and that the ability to cope with the loss is often underestimated.
TL;DR: This article found that comments made to recently bereaved persons may be experienced as helpful or unhelpful, depending on the cause of the death, 141 college students rated thirty poten...
Abstract: Comments made to recently bereaved persons may be experienced as helpful or unhelpful. To see helpfulness ratings varied depending on the cause of the death, 141 college students rated thirty poten...
TL;DR: In this article, a stress-vulnerability model of suicidal behavior among college students was proposed by Bonner and Rich, and the purpose of the current study was to evaluate and extend this model using a young person.
Abstract: A stress-vulnerability model of suicidal behavior among college students was proposed by Bonner and Rich [1, 2]. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate and extend this model using a young...
TL;DR: In this paper, the development of the concept of suicide in sixty children ages six to eleven was evaluated, and it was hypothesized that children's understanding of the concepts of suicide would be related to...
Abstract: This study evaluated the development of the concept of suicide in sixty children ages six to eleven. It was hypothesized that children's understanding of the concept of suicide would be related to ...
TL;DR: The authors found that children's responses to death showed emotions similar to those expressed by adults, and over half of all first experiences with death involved relatives, 28 percent involved a pet and over one-third mentioned that crying occurred.
Abstract: A child's first experience with death may be met with a variety of responses. The objective of this research was to determine what adults remember about these early death experiences. Students in college death-and-dying classes were asked to write an essay about their first death experience. The average age of the respondents (N = 440) was 23.79 years, and their average age at the time of their first death experience was 7.95 years. Content analysis was used to analyze the essays. Over half of all first experiences with death involved relatives, 28 percent involved a pet. Children's responses to death showed emotions similar to those expressed by adults. Over one-third mentioned that crying occurred. Details of the funeral were remembered by many respondents some sixteen years later. Adults need to be sensitive to the needs of children when a significant other or pet dies. It is clear that childhood experiences flavored with death, loss, or separation can become important influences on the way one sees li...
TL;DR: The cumulative psychosocial impact of multiple deaths due to AIDS within a single, gay community was examined in this article, where a personal construct psychology model of bereavement was used to generate hypotheses about the psychological functioning of the members of two gay communities differing in the extent of their bereavement.
Abstract: The cumulative psychosocial impact of multiple deaths due to AIDS within a single, gay community was examined. A personal construct psychology model of bereavement was used to generate hypotheses about the psychosocial functioning of the members of two gay communities differing in the extent of their bereavement. Their psychosocial functioning was assessed through content analysis of their responses to an open-ended interview question. Two hundred fifteen men participated in the study. We hypothesized that the more bereaved community would show more anxiety (in the form of death, mutilation, separation, anxiety, and guilt), depression, and indirectly expressed anger. The hypotheses for anxiety and anger were supported, but not the hypothesis for depression.
TL;DR: One hundred-twenty children who experienced the death of one of their parents were interviewed about their view of the funeral ritual, and ninety-five percent of them attended the funeral.
Abstract: One hundred-twenty children who experienced the death of one of their parents were interviewed about their view of the funeral ritual. Ninety-five percent of them attended the funeral. Shortly after the death they recalled little about the funeral. Two years later, children reported that it was important to them that they had attended. Attendance helped them to acknowledge the death, provided an occasion for honoring their deceased parent, and made it possible for them to receive support and comfort.
TL;DR: Findings are consistent with the observations of Pattison who suggested that one's life trajectory is redefined when the diagnosis of a terminal illness is made; such persons experience great anxiety, resulting in the denial of their fear in order to maintain a psychological equilibrium in the face of death.
Abstract: Twenty-five men, twelve of whom were healthy and thirteen of whom had been diagnosed with AIDS, were administered measures of overt (Templer DAS) and covert (Incomplete Sentence Blank) fear of deat...
TL;DR: The frequency in which today's teenagers have had to confront the death of a peer is understated as discussed by the authors, and a convenience sample of sixty-eight adolescents responded to a 22-question survey instrument addres...
Abstract: The frequency in which today's teenagers have had to confront the death of a peer is understated. A convenience sample of sixty-eight adolescents responded to a 22-question survey instrument addres...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared widowed spouses who either participated or refused to participate in a longitudinal bereavement study using the Bereavement Risk Index (BRI), and investigated the psychometric characteristics of the BRI.
Abstract: Widowed spouses who either participated or refused to participate in a longitudinal bereavement study were compared using the Bereavement Risk Index (BRI). Also investigated were the psychometric characteristics of the BRI. The total BRI had poor internal consistency (α = .50). A principle components analysis yielded one factor with adequate reliability (α = .74), composed of five items associated with stress and coping. Correlations of BRI scores and selected items with measures of depression and stress at three and six months postmortem suggest that they may be more predictive of immediate than of longer-term bereavement adjustment. On the BRI, refusers scored significantly higher than participants on only two items, suggesting that they exercised less control over their emotionality at the time of their loss, and that they were less likely to be working outside their homes. Refusers were also significantly older than participants. Findings were viewed as suggesting little substantive difference between...
TL;DR: The authors applied a social construction of reality paradigm to explain why and how media reports indicated that the Gulf War was characterized by a striking absence of death, and applied it to explain the media reports.
Abstract: Military and media reports indicated that the Gulf War was characterized by a striking absence of death. This article applies a social construction of reality paradigm to explain why and how media ...
TL;DR: This paper examined the psychological and social impact of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on eighty grandmothers and grandfathers and found that almost every aspect of their lives are affected, including disbelief, anger, guilt, anxiety, depression, concern for their bereaved adult children and surviving siblings, exhaustion, and bitterness.
Abstract: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) affects perhaps 8,000 to 10,000 families in the United States each year. Earlier research has indicated that this sudden, unexplainable death of an infant greatly affects the parents of the baby. This study examines the psychological and social impact of SIDS on eighty grandmothers and grandfathers. It is clear from both a statistical, quantitative perspective, and from a more laborious content analysis of their qualitative responses to a survey instrument, that SIDS for most grandparents is a “devastating” experience. Common feelings expressed include: disbelief, anger, guilt, anxiety, depression, concern for their bereaved adult children and surviving siblings, exhaustion, and bitterness. Four percent of the grandparents considered suicide in the aftermath of the death. The findings suggest that almost every aspect of their lives are affected.
TL;DR: In this article, a typology of hope sources for patients with life-threatening illness is presented, including five major hope sources: religion, medical science, fallibilism, self-discipline, and renewal and deception by others (false hope).
Abstract: This article presents a typology of hope sources for patients with life-threatening illness. Ten sources of hope are detailed in the typology, including five major hope sources: religion, medical science, fallibilism, self-discipline, and renewal and deception by others (false hope). These hope sources are also divided into cognitive and behavioral dimensions. Further analysis examines varying hope orientations among patients and physicians. Suggestions for additional research are outlined.
TL;DR: In this article, two broad domains of childrens' death concept development and children and bereavement are reviewed, focusing on the development of death concept questionnaire and the Derry Death Concept Scale.
Abstract: Recent research in the area of children and death is reviewed in this article, focusing on the two broad domains of childrens' death concept development and children and bereavement. The kinds of psychometric instrumentation used in current projects within these areas is then reviewed. These instruments can be broadly classified as structured interview formats (standardized and unstandardized), paper and pencil formats (standardized and unstandardized), and phenomenographic methodology. The bulk of research in the field has relied upon structured interview formats. The Development of Death Concept Questionnaire and the Derry Death Concept Scale are the two standardized structured interview formats that are reviewed, along with a number of unstandardized structured interview formats. The Mourning Behavior Checklist and the Child Behavior Checklist are the two standardized paper and pencil formats that are reviewed, along with a number of unstandardized paper and pencil formats. A relatively new phenomenogr...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report on bereaved spouses' assessments of their participation in twenty-six self-help groups which consisted of eight weekly meetings (short-term; N = 82) or ten monthly meetings in addition to the weekly ones (long-term, N = 52).
Abstract: This study reports on bereaved spouses' assessments of their participation in twenty-six self-help groups which consisted of eight weekly meetings (short-term; N = 82) or ten monthly meetings in addition to the weekly ones (long-term; N = 52). Regardless of the duration of the groups whether they were led by a professional or a widowed peer, assessments were generally positive. The most commonly reported benefit the participants hoped to gain was emotional support. No statistical differences were noted between those in the short- versus long-term condition or between those in the widow- versus professional-led groups regarding perceived helpfulness of the meetings, level of participation, or the extent to which participants' primary needs were filled. Trends, however, seemed to favor those in the long-term groups. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the number of meetings attended and a composite index of perceived value of the meetings. Major recommendations include the importanc...
TL;DR: Comiskey Park, the home of the Chicago White Sox, closed its gates for the last time on September 30, 1990, after a glorious eighty-year reign as the world's greatest baseball palace as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Comiskey Park, the home of the Chicago White Sox, closed its gates for the last time on September 30, 1990, after a glorious eighty-year reign as “the world's greatest baseball palace.” I attended that event as both a social scientist engaged in an ethnographic project and a son seeking to reconnect with the memories of and feelings for his father. In the recording and analysis of the language of those in attendance that day, the scientist within me began to recognize and understand a physical “reality” of memories and the symbolic importance of “bridges” to the past. In the writing, the ethnographer soon came to appreciate and more fully explore the reflexive properties and possibilities of ethnographic research. As a son, I confronted, in part through my research activities, a variety of emotions regarding my father, his death, and my previously unaddressed grief. The son and the social scientist each began to realize the role old Comiskey Park had played in my relationship with my father. This article,...
TL;DR: Evidence is presented that Emma unconsciously knew she was dying, and independently worked on issues of her own death through her art work.
Abstract: This case study examines a body of art work produced by Emma, a geriatric client admitted to a psychiatric ward for what appeared to be symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. On the ward, Emma attended art therapy groups, where she spontaneously created metaphors of loss. Her art work showed many similarities to art work produced by cancer patients. After a three-month stay on the psychiatric ward, Emma was diagnosed with cancer of the liver. She was transferred to a medical unit where she died three weeks later. Emma produced all her art work before she was diagnosed with cancer. This article presents evidence that Emma unconsciously knew she was dying, and independently worked on issues of her own death through her art work.
TL;DR: A pilot study of twenty-four families examined the relationship between stressors and all deaths over four generations in a family's history, and the current functioning of family members as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: While many clinical approaches to family therapy emphasize the impact of past stressors and losses on family functioning, there has been little empirical support for this position. This pilot study of twenty-four families examined the relationship between stressors and all deaths over four generations in a family's history, and the current functioning of family members. Results were mixed, but provided some intriguing findings about the differential impact of loss histories on mothers and fathers, and some evidence for the multigenerational and systemic effects of the stress/loss history. Methodological problems are discussed, and suggestions for future research are made.