When a parent dies: A scoping review of protective and risk processes for childhood bereavement

When a parent dies: A scoping review of protective and risk processes for childhood bereavement
Death Studies; by Rebecca Hoppe, Marcia A. Winter, Chelsea D. William, and Irwin Sandler; 4/15/24
Abstract: The death of a parent can have profound effects on child development. ... A scoping review was conducted in samples of parentally bereaved children to identify key processes, synthesize results, and determine research gaps. This scoping review identified 23 studies (mainly from the United States), published between 1990 and 2023, that reported child (ages 3–22 years) individual and/or environmental protective and/or risk processes that contributed to bereavement outcomes. Findings can be used to apprise clinicians, families, and policymakers of the unique nature of childhood bereavement and to identify malleable processes to target in interventions designed to prevent problematic outcomes in bereaved children.
Funding: This work was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development through the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award [F31HD110247].