Ethical Issues in Bereavement Research with Minors: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Ethics in Research
• Child Development

Background:

• Existing literature on bereavement research ethics primarily addresses adult participants.
• Ethical considerations in bereavement research involving minors are under-explored.
• Unique challenges may arise when conducting research with grieving children and adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify ethical issues in bereavement research involving minors.
• To address the gap in knowledge regarding ethical challenges specific to this population.
• To inform and improve ethical research practices in the field.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Extensive database searches included Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and SSCI.
• Peer-reviewed articles and theses/dissertations were systematically screened for relevance.

Main Results:

• Key ethical concerns identified include informed consent processes for minors.
• Risks to participants, including psychological distress, were a significant ethical consideration.
• Privacy and confidentiality issues require careful management in bereavement research with children.

Conclusions:

• The findings provide crucial insights for researchers designing bereavement studies involving minors.
• Recommendations can guide ethical decision-making for research ethics boards.
• Further research is needed to compare these ethical issues with those in other fields involving minors.