Comprehending Childhood Bereavement by Parental Suicide: a Critical Review of Research on Outcomes, Grief Processes, and Interventions

This article reviews quantitative & qualitative research on the psychopathological outcomes & thematic characteristics of childhood & adolescent suicide survivorship & moderating variables such as life stressors, stigma, the manner of communication about the suicide, & the surviving parent’s functioning. The authors outline several approaches to intervention & address conceptual & methodological challenges within the field. With the ultimate goal of efficacious intervention, recommendations for future priorities & the use of unconventional research methods are offered. (85 refs.)