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The dying child and overt parental behavior
1Department of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and Research Centre, Bhilai.
Indian Pediatrics
|December 1, 1991
Summary
This study examined parental grief reactions following a child's hospital death using the Grief Reaction and Intervention (GRI) scale. Socio-cultural factors significantly influenced the intensity of immediate grief responses observed in parents.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Parental grief following a child's death is a significant psychological and social challenge.
- Understanding immediate grief reactions is crucial for providing timely support.
- Existing research may not fully capture the influence of socio-cultural factors on acute grief.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the immediate grief reaction in parents whose children died in a hospital setting.
- To identify factors associated with the intensity of parental grief.
- To explore the role of socio-cultural variables in parental grief responses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Grief Reaction and Intervention (GRI) scale to score parental reactions (0-4).
- Analyzed data from 73 child death events.
- Compared GRI scores based on demographic and clinical factors.
Main Results:
- The mean GRI score was 1.89 (+/- 1.20), with observed reactions including crying, denial, and hostility.
- Higher grief scores were associated with parents of older children, urban backgrounds, and acute, unanticipated illnesses.
- Parents of first/second-born male children also exhibited higher GRI scores.
Conclusions:
- Immediate parental grief reactions following a child's death are varied and can be intense.
- Socio-cultural factors, such as parental age, background, and child's birth order, appear to significantly influence grief intensity.
- Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive bereavement support in pediatric care.