Always With Me: Understanding Experiences of Bereaved Children Whose Baby Sibling Died

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.

The Associations of Complicated Grief, Depression, Posttraumatic Growth, and Hope Among Bereaved Youth

“…CG is associated with a range of functional impairment and distress outcomes for youth, including depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and hopelessness (Melhem, Moritz, Walker, Shear, & Brent, 2007). Despite the potential for distress and complications during childhood bereavement, there is an increasing body of research suggesting that some bereaved children may also experience positive outcomes as a result of experiencing the death of someone close (e.g., Brewer & Sparkes, 2011; Bugge, Darbyshire, Røkholt, Haugstvedt, & Helseth, 2014; Jonas-Simpson, Steele, Granek, Davies, & O'Leary, 2015). However, research on the associations of CG, depressive symptoms, and positive outcomes such as growth and hope among bereaved children is limited.…”

Women's Mental Health

“…Moreover, schools are potential communities of support for bereaved families. Hence, policies that help teachers open the conversation with bereaved students and parents are critical (Jonas-Simpson et al, 2015 ). Support groups could focus on mothering/ parenting bereaved children during their bereavement drop-in sessions in the community.…”

“…(Jonas-Simpson, 2010b ), could be used to open the discussion on bereaved mothering. Also, a subsequent research-documentary entitled, Always with me : Understanding bereaved children whose baby sibling died (Jonas-Simpson, 2014 ), would be informative and supportive for mothers and fathers parenting bereaved children after infant sibling death.…”

“…The only difference was with parents, especially mothers, being more protective and controlling, particularly of those children born after the loss . In a study on children's bereavement after the death of a baby sibling, the impact of parental grief on a child's grief was signifi cant, especially the mother's grief (Jonas-Simpson, 2014 ). The children at times protected their parents, especially their mothers, from witnessing their grief in order to prevent additional suffering for their parents (Jonas-Simpson, 2014 ).…”

A visual narrative analysis of children’s baby loss remembrance drawings

“…A handful of studies in the area of pregnancy loss and infant death have addressed children's experiences with losing a baby sibling. Most of this work has focused on adults (see Avelin, Gyllenswärd, Erlandsson, & Rådestad, 2014;Jonas-Simpson, Steele, Grankey, Davies, & O'Leary, 2015; for exceptions) reflecting back on their childhood. Findings center around individual emotional challenges, difficulties communicating within the context of the family, and the ways the death of a baby sibling enriched children's lives (Avelin et al, 2014;Fanos, Little, & Edwards, 2009;Jonas-Simpson et al, 2015;Kempson & Murdock, 2010;O'Leary & Gaziano, 2011;O'Leary, Gaziano, & Thorwick, 2006).…”