Highlights
- •This review is the first known to synthesize the current state of the science on grief experiences of siblings.
- •We examine and integrate literature on risk and protective factors for maladaptive grief.
- •Sibling bereavement is one of the most distressing childhood life events.
- •Bereaved siblings are at risk for negative physical and psychological outcomes.
- •Sibling bereavement is influenced by individual factors and socioenvironmental contexts.
Abstract
Problem
Sibling bereavement is one of the most distressing adverse life events during childhood
but has received less attention in research than other forms of childhood bereavement.
This integrative review identifies potential risk and protective factors for maladaptive
coping following sibling bereavement and the influence of these factors on adjustment
to loss.
Eligibility criteria
Articles were limited to peer-reviewed studies, published in English in 2000 and beyond.
Target population was bereaved siblings 0–18 years, and outcomes examined grief experiences
by child self-report or parent-proxy report.
Sample
The Whittemore and Knafl integrative framework was applied. Multidimensional Grief
Theory guided the review with twenty-five studies synthesized across its domains:
Separation Distress, Existential/Identity Crisis, and Circumstance-Related Distress.
Results
Adjustment following sibling death is a complex process associated with a host of
risk and protective factors that contribute to the bereavement process for this population.
Age, sex, circumstance-related factors, continuing bonds, parental distress, and limited
social support were critical influencing factors.
Conclusion
Definitive predictor variables were not identified but a combination of variables
that influence the adjustment of bereaved siblings are discussed.
Implications
Future research is needed to explore the risk and protective factors of maladaptive
coping to inform intervention development to promote individual and family adjustment
following sibling death.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 01, 2022
Accepted:
May 6,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 27,
2022
Received:
February 21,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
