Death of adolescents: parental grief and coping strategies

The death of an adolescent is a particularly complex issue. The process of grieving and coping can be complicated by the tension that may have existed in the parent/child relationship because of the conflict in terms of personal ideology at this stage in the adolescent's development. As a result, parents of adolescent children who die have the potential to experience abnormal grief reactions. Parental coping strategies vary according to the mode of death and outlook adopted by the parents, although some studies suggest parents bereaved of adolescent children do not exhibit marked difference in grieving or coping in comparison to other groups of parents. Healthcare professionals must recognize the specific and special needs of this parent group, and provide appropriate support to minimize the risk of harmful sequelae that may occur as a result of inappropriate and insensitive care.