Bereaved Parents’ Strategies and Reactions When Supporting Their Surviving Children

Bereaved   parent –child communication and  support  can significantly affect surviving children's well-being and family functioning, yet offering  support  may be difficult for bereaved   parents  amidst their own distress. This study investigates  parents ’  strategies and reactions when supporting  their surviving children following a child's death. The results from 11 in-depth interviews outline  bereaved   parents ’  support   strategies  (e.g., direct conversation, concealment, sharing space and time, enabling outside communication, commemoration) and positive and negative  reactions . This study focused on  support  from the provider perspective, so implications for  parental   support  and grief processes are discussed. Practical considerations for  supporting  surviving children are explored.