Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Caring Connections: A Grounded Theory Study of the Grief and Bereavement Experiences of Children With Intellectual
Arlen G Gaines1, Patricia M Wright2, Jaime Goldberg3
1School of Graduate Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract:
Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) have been minimally represented in grief research. This grounded theory study aimed to elucidate the grief and bereavement experiences of children with ID from the perspective of their caregivers, and optionally from their child, and to develop a substantive theory to guide developmentally inclusive interventions. Eligible participants were caregivers of a child with ID who was 5-17 years old when they experienced the death of someone significant within the past six months to three years. After purposive sampling through disability organizations, adult caregivers (n = 19) and children (n = 6) participated in semi-structured interviews. Constant comparative analysis led to the Caring Connections theory, which delineates processes related to internal loss experiences and the outward desire to care for others. With clinical implications, this theory highlights that supporting grieving children with ID includes fostering opportunities for caring and connection, which can enhance coping and may mitigate disenfranchised grief.
More Related Videos
07:56Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
06:16Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Bonanno's Theory of Grieving
Resilience
Intellectual Disability
Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood
Schemata: Building Blocks of Knowledge
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other