Related Experiment Videos

Survey of psychological support for bereaved families in Japan

Shigeru Nishimaki1, Rumiko Higuchi, Shoko Nakajima

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. shigenis@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|October 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Psychological support for families experiencing child loss in hospitals is inadequate. Many pediatricians lack training and time, and few institutions offer specialized grief care, highlighting a critical need for improvement.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Psychology
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Sudden childhood death presents significant challenges for families.
  • Effective psychological support is crucial for bereaved families.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the current state of psychological support for families of children who died suddenly.
  • To identify gaps and needs in existing support systems.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide questionnaire survey distributed to 2415 medical facilities.
  • Analysis of responses from 981 facilities (40.6% response rate).

Main Results:

  • 25.9% of facilities reported infant deaths shortly after admission.
  • Only 53% of pediatricians provided psychological support, with 53% deeming it unsatisfactory.
  • Few institutions (7%) employed specialist staff, though 83% recognized the need.

Conclusions:

  • Current psychological support for families of children dying in hospitals is insufficient.
  • Enhanced grief care through family associations and institutional cooperation is recommended.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Bonanno's Theory of Grieving01:17

Bonanno's Theory of Grieving

Grieving is a complex psychological and emotional process that varies significantly among individuals. George Bonanno's research on bereavement identified four distinct patterns of grieving, offering a nuanced understanding of how people cope with significant loss, such as the death of a spouse, over extended periods. These patterns — resilience, recovery, chronic dysfunction, and delayed grief — highlight the diversity in emotional responses and adaptive mechanisms.
Resilience
The resilience...
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused01:20

Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused

Emotion-focused coping refers to a set of strategies aimed at managing the emotional impact of stressors, rather than directly addressing their causes. This approach involves altering one's emotional response to stressful situations to reduce their psychological effects. For example, individuals might talk with a friend or engage in activities like journaling to express their feelings. Such actions can help achieve emotional clarity or release, providing the psychological stability needed to...
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V01:28

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V

A social support system is a structured network of personal relationships that provides assistance to individuals facing various challenges, offering a buffer against psychological and physical stressors. This network may consist of family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other community members who provide resources and companionship. Social support can take many forms, including advice, emotional comfort, practical help, and companionship. Research indicates that these networks can...
Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying01:21

Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross significantly advanced psychology's understanding of the process of dying with her influential book, On Death and Dying (1969). She focused on studying terminally ill individuals and outlined five stages commonly experienced when coping with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from emotional distress. Anger...
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder01:27

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...