Adults' reactions to the death of a parent: a preliminary study

The authors conducted a systematic psychodynamic investigation directed explicitly toward the bereavement reactions of people who have lost a parent during their adult life. They conducted a single in-depth interview of 14 people with a mean age of 32.4 years who had experienced the death of a parent in the last 3--20 months. The authors present clinical data illustrating several themes, including the importance of the last meeting with the parent, the experience of grief and aggression, coping resources, and growth-oriented aspects of the bereavement process. They also make a number of suggestions regarding clinical practice and further research.