Funeral Directors and Bereaved Children: Beliefs and Experiences

• Published in: Death studies Vol. 33; no. 9; pp. 828 - 847
• Main Author: Mahon, Margaret M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.10.2009; Routledge; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Administrators; Adolescent; Barriers; Beliefs; Bereavement; Business; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Coping; Culture; Death; Death & dying; Developmental Stages; Educational Resources; Experience; Funeral industry; Funeral Rites - psychology; Grief; Health technology assessment; Humans; Mothers; Parent Child Relationship; Professional Role - psychology; Professional-Family Relations; Qualitative research; Self-Help Groups; Social Support; Social Support Groups; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0748-1187; 1091-7683
• DOI: 10.1080/07481180903142464

As one component of an ongoing project to develop resources for bereaved children and families, funeral directors were surveyed about their experiences and practices with bereaved children. About one-third of respondents reported that they provided services specifically for bereaved children. Of these, some were proactive (reaching out to provide services) whereas others were reactive (responding only when information or services were requested). Many of the participant funeral directors found that families mediated children's involvement or experiences. Often, the parents were perceived as an impediment to optimal experiences for the child. Many funeral directors who did not provide services described being encumbered by a lack of resources, or they perceived that other individuals or organizations in the community were filling that need.