A child dies, a child survives: the impact of sibling loss

J Pediatr Health Care. 1992 Mar-Apr;6(2):65-72. doi: 10.1016/0891-5245(92)90123-l.

Abstract

When a child dies, the survivors--both parents and the remaining children--must adapt to a new reality. The immediate effect of sibling death is to precipitate grief and to increase the psychologic vulnerability of the remaining children. Communication patterns within a family in part determine the ease or difficulty with which members are able to live with the death of a child. This article discusses a family-centered approach toward support of siblings in bereavement. Strategies that assist surviving family members to mobilize their own strengths are presented. A review of resources pertaining to sibling loss is included.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Attitude to Death*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Communication
  • Grief*
  • Humans
  • Nursing Assessment
  • Parents / psychology
  • Psychology, Child*
  • Sibling Relations*