Emerging Adults' Experiences of Grandparent Death

Coping Following Bereavement: Comparing European American and Japanese Emerging Adults

Although bereavement is an experience emerging adults of every culture go through, there is limited cross-cultural research on coping following bereavement. Therefore, this study aimed to explore similarities and differences between European American and Japanese emerging adults regarding their experiences with coping strategies following a death, with consideration of cultural rituals related to bereavement. Open-ended 30- to 50-min virtual interviews were conducted among 7 European American and 7 Japanese adults between the ages of 20-30 years old. Through qualitative analysis researchers found that for both cultures, reported characteristics of coping strategies typically aligned with conceptions of emotion engagement and emotion disengagement coping, as defined in Tobin's Coping Strategies Inventory (2001). Both cultures reported similar coping strategies, although European Americans reported a greater variety of activities within the coping categories. Some coping behaviors could not be categorized under either coping strategy, implying a need for more research and conceptual refinement.

How Grandparents Inform Our Lives: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Intergenerational Influence on Young Adults

While it is well documented that grandchildren benefit from strong, positive relationships with grandparents, less is known about the influence of these relationships as individuals establish their lives in early adulthood. Further, how this impact varies based on grandparent type (i.e., whether grandparents take on a "traditional" non-caregiving or "custodial" caregiving role) has not been investigated, despite the growing number of youth raised, at least in part, by their grandparents. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, this study explores the influence of grandparent type during childhood on life satisfaction, perceived relationship quality, and life building in early adulthood. Descriptive and comparative analyses of survey data captured in the quantitative strand (N = 94) informed the subsample that completed semi-structured interviews in the emphasized qualitative strand (N = 9). The integrated findings revealed that past and present grandparent relationships remain salient in early adulthood, though the context and substance of these relationships is often nuanced with shifts over time and across individuals. Despite the importance of context, we failed to observe significant differences in life satisfaction or perceived relationship quality by grandparent type. Taken together, the findings suggest the substance of the relationship, more so than the structure, may be impactful for individuals building their life and reflecting on their values in early adulthood. In addition to elucidating areas for continued exploration, this work highlights the need for researchers and practitioners to consider variation in family structure when designing research and developing supports to reinforce positive, mutually beneficial grandparent-grandchild relationships.

A Grounded Theory on Interment Stress Among Filipino Older Adults

Older adults deal with age-related challenges concerning death and dying. Their cognitive and emotional interactions on burial arrangement, funeral expenses and body disposition encapsulate interment stresses. This grounded theory research underscored the development of interment stress among Filipino older adults (n = 26). A three-stage (Yielding, Inflowing and Discharging) model, 'The spillway for cognitive and emotional interactions of interment stress' represented interment stress as a cognitive and emotional interactive process experienced by older adults. The emergent model may be vital to offer death awareness and preparation, and a basis for creating appropriate programs to cope with the interment stress among older adults. This interment stress framework may also contribute to geriatric and gerontological psychology focused on promoting the older adults' psychological well-being and assist in achieving harmonious aging. Ultimately, the findings hope to achieve advances on individuals' and organizations' management of older adults' interment stress within personal, social and professional context.

Grieving a Grandparent: The Importance of Gender and Multigenerational Relationships

Objective

This study examined adult grandchildren's experience of losing a grandparent in the context of a multigenerational family.

Background

Although the death of a grandparent in adulthood is often an expected life event, this loss may still result in grief for adult grandchildren. Furthermore, bereavement is not merely an individual experience, but a family one. Characteristics of the relationship between bereaved adult grandchildren and their bereaved middle-generation parents may influence adult grandchildren's grief responses. This includes both structural (e.g., gender of parent; coresidence with parent) and emotional (e.g., relationship quality; worry about parent) aspects of this tie.

Method

Young adult grandchildren from Wave 2 of the Family Exchanges Study (2013, N = 204) reported on their recent grandparent loss experiences (N = 216) and relationships with their middle-generation parents (N= 142).

Results

Three-level multilevel models revealed that (a) grandsons who lost a grandmother reported significantly fewer grief symptoms than all other gender combinations; (b) worry about a middle-generation parent was associated with higher grief symptoms, but; (c) this effect was significantly stronger when the middle-generation parent was a mother, and when adult grandchildren were coresident with that bereaved parent. Finally, relationship quality with the middle-generation parent was not associated with grief symptoms, irrespective of context.

Conclusion

Results highlight the intersection of emotional and structural aspects of multigenerational relationships following the death of a family member.

The Experiences of Grief and Personal Growth in University Students: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Experiencing the death of a close person, especially in emerging adults and students, can have profound effects on the bereaved individual's life. As most research in this field has focused on negative effects of a loss, little is known about potential positive effects experienced by bereaved university students. This study investigated the experience of grief and personal growth in a sample of students from The University of Melbourne, Australia.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews via Zoom/telephone with bereaved students (n = 14), who were invited to reflect on their loss and any personal growth potentially experienced. Thematic analysis of the data was based on a deductive and inductive approach.

RESULTS

The analysis identified four themes: (i) sharing of grief as a coping mechanism, (ii) balance between grief reactions and moving forward in life, (iii) lessons learned and personal growth, and (iv) adopting values from the deceased person and continuing bonds.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants emphasized personal growth regarding self-perception and philosophical views on life. Following the loss, they preferred peer support, and used formal services only when they had a specific need. The findings indicate the importance of social support for bereaved students, and the complimentary role of peer and professional support. Hence, academic institutions should offer supportive services tailored to both students and professionals to help bereaved students.