The understanding of complicated grief in children and adolescents is still in its infancy (Moore, 2017). The area has not been explored extensively as compared to the many empirical research studies conducted on complicated grief in adults. This paper presents a literature review on empirical research studies carried out on complicated grief in children and adults. Much of understanding of complicated grief in children and adolescents is derived from the studies carried on adults. The few studies carried out on complicated grief in adolescents show that there could be some few similarities between adolescent complicated grief and that of adults (Stevenson, 2000). However, it is vital to note that what may be seen as minor issues in grownups could be of major impact on adolescents and children especially in instances where there is cumulative loss (Moore, 2017).
The way children and adolescents perceive death and loss grows as their cognitive development grows. In cases where after a major loss adults do not address these developmental aspects, children and adolescents could be exposed to developing trauma. Previously, there have been contentions on the nature of complicated grief in children and adolescents. However, current literature brings out a difference between normal and complicated grief in children and adolescents. Both children and adolescents suffer one or both of the grief. This is determined by several personal and situational factors of the children and adolescents. In comparing the existing literature on children adolescent complicated grief, a plethora of language comes up in the literature examined. For example, prolonged, traumatic, and disenfranchised grief is applied in the literature work reviewed.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
However, regardless of the conceptual confusion, consensus on the existence of some subtypes of complicated grief in children and adolescents is evident. The subtypes include delayed grief that is not shown and in most cases is characteristic of preoccupation with the welfare of other people (Worden, 2008). Chronic grief is another subtype that involves excessive grief where the reactions are intense and the emotion expressed in a limited way. Inhibited grief can also be expressed which is characteristic of the failure to acknowledge death or loss of someone close. The traumatic issues of a loss which include witnessing death happening can accompany sudden death and are part of a complicated grief.
Recovery from grief has been known to be facilitated by means of psychotherapy interventions. Physicians have come up with several ways of treating complicated grief in adults, children and adolescents. They include cognitive therapy, supportive therapy, writing therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy etc. However, few of the developed and identified interventions aim at the symptoms associated with complicated grief. They only target depression and distress from a general point of view. One type of complicated grief therapy that has a strong empirical support is founded on the attachment theory. It views human beings as inherently programmed to look for and maintain relationships (Worden, 2008). Proponents of the therapy state that upon successful mourning, the bereaved person comes out of the level of acute mourning to integrated grief. After the acceptance of the loss at this stage, the individual is able to overcome the trauma developed as a result of the loss. The emotions of the bereaved individual develop into being more positive and the exploratory aspect is regained. Finally, the life goals are changed in order to accommodate the results of the loss. This is achieved through application of a dual process model that incorporates activities that aim at both loss and restoration.
In conclusion, an adequate understanding of complicated grief in children and adolescents is incomplete. This is because the observed, theorized and studied symptoms and responses have not been studied in children and adolescents of different ages (Moore, 2017). The literature reviewed for purposes of this paper show applied adult variables in assessing complicated grief in children and adolescents were measure based on adult variables of complicated grief. Although a lot can be learnt from findings studies conducted on adults, future research is needed that incorporate children and adolescents from different age groups. In addition, studies conducted on children and adolescents with varying individual traits, circumstances surrounding the loss and the levels of association with the deceased are required in order to have a clear understanding of this issue.
References
Stevenson, R. G. (2000). It’s never easy! children, adolescents and complicated grief. Complicated grieving and bereavement: understanding and treating people experiencing loss . doi:10.2190/cgac19
Moore, C. (2017). Helping grieving children and adolescents. Clinical Handbook of Bereavement and Grief Reactions, 189-215. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-65241-2_9
Worden, J. W. (2008). Grief counseling and grief therapy. doi:10.1891/9780826101211
