Always with me: understanding experiences of bereaved children whose baby sibling died

Death Stud. 2015 Jan-Jun;39(1-5):242-51. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2014.991954. Epub 2014 Dec 31.

Abstract

An arts-based qualitative method was used to explore the experiences of children's bereavement after a baby sibling's death, in the context of their family and school life. Data were collected during in-depth interviews with 9 bereaved children and 5 parents from 4 Canadian families and analyzed. A central process, evolving sibling relationship over the years, and a pattern of vulnerability/resilience, ran through all four themes, which reflected ideas of connection, impact of parental grief, disenfranchisement and growth. Findings indicated that home and school are critical to children in creating safe spaces for expressing the evolving nature of infant sibling bereavement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Art*
  • Behavioral Research / methods
  • Bereavement*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Grief*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Death*
  • Life Change Events
  • Male
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Psychological Techniques
  • Qualitative Research
  • Sibling Relations*
  • Siblings / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological* / diagnosis
  • Stress, Psychological* / etiology