Young mothers' communication about death with their children

Young mothers' death-communication style and content patterns were determined by use of a simulation device in which a child's recorded voice posed questions or expressed reactions to a death situation. Eight different situations were constructed, depicting two each of four common reactions of children to a type of death occurrence (fear, curiosity, anger, fantasy/denial). Interviews were conducted with 100 mothers of young children who also responded spontaneously to each of the eight situations just as they might respond to their own children. Judges were able to place the women's recorded responses into both content and style categories. Content patterns were inconsistent; style (relationship) classifications appeared to be most consistent, with subjects falling into four predetermined style patterns (open-warm, open-cool, closed-warm, closed-cool) and one mixed category. Parents' reaction differences appeared only in the more ego-involving situations in which the child displayed some emotions, whereas a majority of mothers responded similarly to the "developmental curiosity" of the child. Background and personality factors relating to communication styles were investigated; factors labeled "commitment to education" and "resistance to emotional discussion" discriminated most clearly among the five style groups. combined groups (open versus closed, warm versus cool) also revealed significant differences. Implications for parent education and for further research are discussed.