Continuing Bonds With Children and Bereaved Young People: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Bereavement Studies
• Child Development

Background:

• Continuing bonds with deceased family members are crucial in bereavement.
• Mechanisms by which bereaved children and young people form these bonds remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how bereaved young people establish and develop continuing bonds with deceased family members.

Main Methods:

• Systematic narrative review of 20 peer-reviewed articles.
• Searches conducted across six major electronic databases.
• Methodological quality assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: unintended connections, intended connections, and internalized connections.
• Bereaved youth utilize spontaneous reminders, physical mementos, and internalized memories.
• Connection strategies vary, with some being spontaneous and others actively pursued.

Conclusions:

• Bereaved young people actively create and maintain connections with deceased family members.
• Both spontaneous and intentional methods contribute to a continuing bond.
• Understanding these connections is vital for supporting grieving youth.