title: The characteristics and experiences of anticipatory mourning in caregivers of teenagers and young adults.
abstract: This article reports a systematic review of literature undertaken to identify characteristics and experiences of anticipatory mourning in caregivers of teenagers and young adults with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the key words 'anticipatory', 'mourning', 'grief', and synonyms. This review focused on six studies that met inclusion criteria and reported characteristics of anticipatory mourning in caregivers of teenagers and young adults. Characteristics and experiences were sorted into four main themes: symptoms; a sense of loss; caregiver behaviour; and the unique experience of caring for, or losing, a teenager or young adult. The review suggests that there are characteristics and experiences of anticipatory mourning that are unique to caregivers of this age group. The review also suggests that consideration of anticipatory mourning is important in offering holistic care to young adults and their caregivers, and points to the need for further research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Team Leader, at Helen and Douglas House Hospice, Oxford.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Research Co-ordinator, at Helen and Douglas House Hospice, Oxford.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Cancer Care, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University.
authors.forename: Verna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lavender
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anticipatory grief; Anticipatory mourning; Caregivers; Carers; Systematic review; Teenagers and young adults