Family Support and a Child's Adjustment to Death

A sample of 91 children experienced with death from 50 families were interviewed along with parents to determine factors related to family influence in a child's understanding and adjustment to death. Variables studied include family cohesion, family adaptability, decisions-making about a child's participation in family rituals associated with death, and the child's cognitive ability to conceptualize death and adjust to loss. Significant differences were found between different family styles and a child's participation and adjustment. Highly cohesive families were less likely to allow children to participate and had less understanding about death.