Parental grief in three societies: networks and religion as social supports in mourning

Reference:

Hass, J. and Walter, T., 2007. Parental grief in three societies: networks and religion as social supports in mourning. Omega: The Journal of Death and Dying, 54 (3), pp. 179-198.

Related documents:

Preview

PDF (Walter_Omega_54_3_179.pdf) - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader Download (133kB) | Preview

Official URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.2190/023P-2J03-8511-561R

Abstract

How do people respond to the grief of parents over the death of their infant child? This article documents the experience of one of the authors, an American married to a Russian whose child died in England. Responses to this death by friends, colleagues and family in the USA, England, and two cities in Russia varied considerably in terms of depth and degree of engagement (emotional engagement, respect, or distance and avoidance). What factors underlie these varied responses? Two are identified, one structural, the other cultural: the strength of the social ties within social networks, and religiosity as historically sedimented within a culture. The degree of engagement is correlated with network form; but the content of engagement depends on religiosity.

Export

Actions (login required)