Bereavement reactions in children: therapeutic implications
Kaffman, M.; Elizur, E.; Gluckson, L.
Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences 24(1-2): 65-76
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0333-7308 PMID: 3443541 Document Number: 292268
This paper provides an overview of the findings of a longitudinal study of 25 normal pre-adolescent kibbutz children who lost their fathers during the October 1973 war in Israel. Severe emotional and behavioral problems, as well as impaired social functioning, characterized the post-traumatic period for over 40% of this non-clinical sample of children. Given the central conclusion of our investigation, that preadolescent children who lose their fathers, are children at high-risk for psychiatric disturbance, we present in this article therapeutic implications and recommendations for intervention in the treatment of bereaved children.