Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan

by Walter, Carolyn Ambler; Mccoyd, Judith L. M.

• ISBN13: 9780826127570
• ISBN10: 0826127576
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780826127587
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-03-23
• Publisher: Springer Pub Co

Summary

Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan is unique in its treatment of grieving patterns and intervention strategies for different age groups. With this book, students and practitioners will learn how grief is influenced by biological responses to stress, psychological responses to loss, as well as social norms and support networks.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xv
Acknowledgments	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
Text Structure	p. 2
Introduction to Grief Theory	p. 3
Classical Grief Theory: Task-Based Theories	p. 4
Classical Grief Theory: Stage-Based Theories	p. 7
The Transition to Postmodern Grief Theory	p. 13
Meaning-Making and Grief	p. 14
Dual Process Theory	p. 16
Continuing Bonds and Grief	p. 17
Disenfranchised Grief	p. 18
Ambiguous Loss	p. 19
Biological Effects of Grief	p. 20
Issues of Intervention	p. 23
A Final Word About Grief Work	p. 25
Perinatal Attachment and Loss	p. 27
Developmental Aspects of Pregnancy	p. 28
Biological Developmental Context of Pregnancy	p. 29
Psychological Aspects of Pregnancy	p. 30
Social Aspects of Pregnancy	p. 33
Summary of Development in the Prenatal Period	p. 35
Loss as Experienced by a Fetus	p. 36
Loss of a Fetus as Experienced by Significant Others	p. 37
Infertility	p. 37
Reproductive Health Conditions	p. 38
Biological Changes Associated With Intrauterine Fetal Death	p. 39
Psychological Aspects of IUFD	p. 41
Social Aspects of IUFD	p. 46
Readings
Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Medical Complication of Pregnancy	p. 49
Heartbreaking Choices and Losses of Potential	p. 58
Summary	p. 66
Infancy and Toddlerhood	p. 69
Developmental Stage: Trust Versus Mistrust and Autonomy Versus Shame	p. 70
Biological Development	p. 71
Psychological Development	p. 72
Social Development	p. 74
Losses Experienced in Infancy and Early Childhood	p. 75
Loss of Caregiving	p. 75
Death of a Caregiver	p. 78
Loss of a Child's Own Health	p. 80
Parental Loss of an Individual at This Age	p. 80
Death of an Infant or Toddler	p. 80
Loss of the Idealized Child	p. 81
Maturational and Other Losses Experienced at This Age	p. 82
Birth and Gradual Loss of Complete Care	p. 82
Readings
Starting With Abandonment and Loss	p. 84
Baby James	p. 89
Nina's Travels Through the Foster Care System	p. 94
Summary	p. 100
Elementary-School-Age Children	p. 103
Developmental Stage: Initiative Versus Guilt and Industry Versus Inferiority	p. 104
Biological Development	p. 105
Psychological Development	p. 107
Social Development	p. 109
Loss Experienced by an Individual During the Elementary School Years	p. 110
Age Differences in Perceptions of Loss	p. 110
Loss of a Pet	p. 111
Losses Resulting From Sexual Abuse	p. 112
Loss Caused by Parental Divorce	p. 112
Loss and the Military	p. 113
Intervention Issues With Elementary School Children	p. 114
Loss of an Individual of That Age as Experienced by Others	p. 116
Parents' Loss of a Child	p. 116
Readings
The Challenged Child	p. 119
Loss of a Pet in Childhood: The Loss of a Companion	p. 121
Summary	p. 126
Tweens and Teens	p. 129
Development: Identity Development Versus Identity Diffusion	p. 130
Biological Development	p. 130
Psychosocial Development	p. 133
Losses of Adolescents	p. 137
Teens' Experience of Death (Others' or Their Own)	p. 138
Death of a Sibling	p. 140
Response to the Death of a Teen	p. 142
Parents' Loss of a Tween or Teen	p. 142
Other Losses Experienced by Teens	p. 143
Maturational Losses	p. 143
Readings
Childhood Chronic Health Conditions and Sibling Loss: Celebrating Strengths and Acknowledging Difficulty	p. 147
Teenagers and Traumatic Grief: Tina's Story	p. 152
Loss of Love for an Adolescent: Carolyn's Public and Private Loss	p. 162
Summary	p. 168
Young Adulthood	p. 171
Developmental Crisis: Intimacy Versus Isolation	p. 172
Social Development	p. 172
Psychological Development	p. 173
Losses Experienced by Young Adults	p. 174
Chronic Illness	p. 174
Death of a Parent	p. 177
Maturational Losses in Early Adulthood	p. 178
Delaying Decisions About Childbearing	p. 178
Infertility	p. 178
Losses Connected With the Transition to Parenthood	p. 179
Loss of Romantic Relationships	p. 180
Addictions	p. 181
Loss of a Young Adult as Experienced by Others	p. 181
Mental Health Problems and Loss Related to the War in Iraq	p. 181
Death of a Spouse	p. 182
Death of a Nonmarried Opposite-Sex Partner	p. 185
Death of a Gay Partner	p. 185
Death of a Lesbian Partner	p. 186
Readings
The Case of a Young Adult Who Has Lost a Parent	p. 187
The Losses of Infertility	p. 194
Case of a Young Adult Struggling With Addictions	p. 204
Summary	p. 208
Middle Adulthood	p. 211
Developmental Crisis: Generativity Versus Stagnation	p. 212
Psychological Aspects of Development	p. 212
Biological Aspects of Development	p. 214
Social Aspects of Development	p. 214
Loss Experienced by Midlife Adults	p. 215
Transformation of Identity and "Letting Go of Past Dreams"	p. 215
Immigration as an Example of Transformation of Identity	p. 216
Facing a Chronic or Life-Threatening Illness	p. 217
Death of Parents	p. 219
Death of a Sibling in Adulthood	p. 221
The Loss of the Midlife Adult as Experienced by Others	p. 222
Death of a Spouse	p. 222
Death of a Nonmarried Opposite-Sex Partner	p. 223
Death of a Lesbian Partner	p. 224
Death of a Gay Partner	p. 225
Maturational Losses of Midlife Adults	p. 226
Loss/Transition of Employment	p. 226
Loss Experienced by Parents When Adult Children Are Leaving Home	p. 228
The Loss of the Family Home	p. 229
Off-Time Issues of Parenthood-Fertility Issues Arise Again	p. 230
Readings
Illness Doesn't Discriminate: One Story From the Gay and Lesbian Community	p. 231
Losses of Professional Identity and Career Aspirations	p. 241
Kudu's Story: Changing Lives	p. 246
Summary	p. 250
Retirement and Reinvention	p. 253
The Transition to the Third Quarter of Life: Retirement or Reinvention?	p. 254
Losses Experienced by Adults During Retirement and Reinvention	p. 257
Loss and Transformation of Identity	p. 257
Loss of Routine: Search for Balance	p. 260
Loss of or Change in Relationships	p. 261
Changes Within the Marital/Partner Relationship	p. 262
Changes in Relationships With Friends	p. 264
Loss of Financial Resources	p. 265
Loss of or Change in One's Belief System: The Importance of Spiritual Growth	p. 266
Changes in Relationship to One's Community	p. 266
The Process of Change: Coping With the Transition Process	p. 267
Loss of Adult as Experienced by Others	p. 268
Adult Children	p. 268
Parents	p. 269
Readings
Case Study on Midlife Career/Life Transition	p. 270
Early Retirement Among Baby Boom Women:
Some Losses and Some Gains	p. 273
Summary	p. 280
Older Adults	p. 281
Developmental Crisis: Integrity Versus Despair	p. 282
Social Changes	p. 283
Psychological Changes	p. 284
Biological Changes	p. 284
Losses Experienced by Older Adults	p. 285
Resilience	p. 285
Developing a Point of View About Death	p. 287
Coping With Chronic/Life-Threatening Illness	p. 289
Death of a Spouse	p. 291
Death of a Nonmarried Opposite-Sex Partner	p. 295
Death of an Adult Child	p. 297
Death of Friends	p. 298
Maturational Losses	p. 299
Loss of Home/Relocation	p. 299
Grandparent Caregivers	p. 300
Hospice as a Resource for Patients and Their Families	p. 302
Readings
The Story of Rachael and Hal	p. 302
Marital Bereavement in Later Adulthood	p. 309
Olivia's Journey	p. 315
Summary	p. 320
Conclusions	p. 323
Maturational Losses as Examples of Disenfranchised Losses	p. 324
Importance of the Dual Process Model of Coping With Bereavement	p. 327
Importance of Continuing Bonds	p. 329
Meaning-Making as a Process of Growth	p. 331
Interventions	p. 334
References	p. 337
Index	p. 367
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