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Working with the bereaved: U.S. Army experiences with nontraditional families
1Department of Sociology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA.
Death Studies
|October 4, 1996
Summary
Army Casualty Assistance Officers (CAOs) face complex family dynamics during bereavement work. Their experiences highlight challenges in understanding diverse family structures and emotional support needs.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Military Social Work
Background:
- Military casualty assistance involves supporting bereaved families.
- Previous research has not fully explored the unique interactions from a postmodern family perspective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the interactions between Army Casualty Assistance Officers (CAOs) and families of deceased soldiers.
- To understand the challenges CAOs face using a postmodern family lens.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses from 188 CAOs.
- Data focused on CAOs assisting families after air disasters.
Main Results:
- Five key themes emerged: postmodern family structures, contested "significant other" definitions, language, diversity, and emotion.
- These themes are linked to the demanding nature of bereavement work.
Conclusions:
- CAO experiences in supporting bereaved military families share similarities with other grief support professionals.
- Understanding diverse family contexts is crucial for effective casualty assistance.