Adult decisions affecting bereaved children
Researching the children's perspectives
Abstract
ABSTRACTThis child-centred study involved 30 young people aged 6-12 years whohad lose one or both parents.Semi-structured interviews with the children were recorded and analysed qualitatively, exploring their views of the interventions interactions of adults, peers and the school around the time of the death.Questions explored such issues as how the news was delivered, opportunities for anticipatory grieving, participation in rites of passage and sources of support.The results confirm that overprotection in breavement, echoedin the reluctance of adult gatekeepers to allow children to participate in research, does not recognise children's needs and can hinder the grieving process and erode self-esteem.
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