title: Parental perceptions of siblings' grieving after a childhood cancer death: a longitudinal study.
abstract: We investigated longitudinally parental perceptions of siblings' bereavement after childhood cancer death. Parents were interviewed 6 months (n = 25) and 18 months (n = 75) post-death. Data are analyzed combined and over time. The following themes emerged: (a) expression of grief missing deceased child (verbally, crying), behavioral problems, difficulty understanding the meaning of death (pre-schoolers), and avoiding talking with parents about feelings (adolescents); (b) what helps siblings grief moving on, talking about deceased child and social support; (c) relationship with parents improved for most siblings; and (d) bond with deceased sibling: pretend-play (preschoolers), dreaming, and career choices (adolescents). Over time, themes reflected stability and change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Haematology-Oncology Program, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. maru.barrera@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Maru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Survivorship Program, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Norma Mammone
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*