Differences in Death Concepts Between Children Wither Cancer and Physically Healthy Children

The objectives of the current study were (a) to investigate differences in concepts of death between healthy children and children with cancer and (b) to investigate within the oncology sample the effects of disease,related variables and previous experience with death on concepts of death. Study participants included 32 children with cancer (ages = 3 to 16 years) and 32 healthy children matched on age. Analyses of a structured interview indicated that healthy children were more likely to exhibit the concepts of immanent justice and personal death than children with cancer. Point-biserial correlations conducted within the oncology group indicated that 3- to 6-year-old children who had had personal experiences with death (loss of a loved one) were more likely to exhibit the concepts of universality, personal death, and irrevocability. Implications for clinical practice are reviewed, and directions for future research are discussed.