title: Emerging Adults' Experiences of Grandparent Death.
abstract: This qualitative study examined the experience of grandparent death among 74 emerging adults enrolled in college. Guided by the life course perspective, the authors specifically explored (a) participant responses to the death, (b) how family systems were influenced by the loss of the grandparent, and (c) how grandparent death motivated life course transitions for emerging adults. The findings suggest that the death trajectory, level of attachment, the role the grandchild played in the family, as well as the coping style utilized affected participants' grief processes. This study underscores the importance of the grandchild-grandparent tie, how new death experiences create meaning and ritual, and how life course transitions are motivated when an older family member dies. Implications for providing support on college campuses when emerging adults experience grandparent death are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Gerontology, Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Manoogian
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Gerontology, Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandenbroeke
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Gerontology, Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ringering
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychological Sciences, Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Tamina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toray
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychological Sciences, Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cooley
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003643:Death; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D000066502:Grandparents / Q000523:psychology*; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: bereavement; death; emerging adults; grandchild; grandparent; grief