Used descriptive model of grief to systematically evaluate empirical studies on mourning after suicide. Grief after suicide appeared to differ on several qualitative aspects from grief from other causes of death. Grief process, however, seemed to show same course and main features as those occurring after other types of death, especially after…

The Grief Experience Inventory and the MMPI were used to assess bereavement reactions in newly bereaved individuals. Intensities of bereavement reactions were compared across types of deaths experienced, i.e., spouse, child, and parent. Significantly higher intensities of grief were noted in parents surviving their child's death. (Author)

A questionnaire on attitudes toward death first administered to college students in 1935 was administered to college students in 1991. The students in 1991 showed much greater concern with and anxiety over death than did students in 1935. Cancer and car accidents remained causes of death most often anticipated in 1991 as in 1935 and 1970.…

Compares suicide in Greek tragedy and Hebrew Bible, concentrating on life situations portrayed in two sets of narratives promoting or preventing suicide. Notes frequency of suicides in Greek tragedy and infrequency of suicides in Bible. Compares stories of Narcissus and Jonah in attempt to pinpoint what is suicide-promoting in Greek narratives and…

Explored possible response bias in a needs assessment survey for a hospice program. Results showed differences between the 22 caregivers who responded to the survey and the 38 who did not respond. Bias in the study may have eliminated clients with the most difficult experiences. (Author/JAC)

Investigates similarities and differences between male and female homicide offenders, as well as between murderers and non-aggressive property offenders. Supported the hypothesis that as individual's lives tend to be characterized by situations of high unreciprocity, the likelihood of homicide increases. (Author)

Compared perceptions of 19 bereaved spouses with those of 47 bereaved adult children. Differences between groups were found in appraised difficulty of the death, number of peripheral sources of support, and assistance from friends and neighbors. Spouses suffered more negative side effects than adult children in reported health and emotional…

Examined grief reactions of 36 parents and 28 grandparents within same family to death of child. Both groups reported subjectively experiencing affective changes. Most parents mentioned feeling or acting differently toward surviving children; only one-third of grandparents noted differences toward grandchildren. Parents' reactions focused on…

Studied the hypothesis of a positive relationship between fear of death and fertility that was previously examined and confirmed among a sample subset. The present reinvestigation incorporated numerous methodological revisions and used a different measure of death fear. Findings amassed considerable evidence for rejection of the hypothesis.…

Evaluated effectiveness of death education program in reducing death anxiety experienced by 22 junior and senior nursing students. Subjects were pre- and posttested with State Form of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and viewed film of death experience. Posttest analysis indicated that death education program was effective in decreasing death anxiety…

Younger spouses initially manifested greater grief; older spouses showed exacerbated grief reactions. While denial seemed to be a defense against anxiety, elevations on the Social Isolation, Depersonalization, and Death Anxiety scales for older spouses showed the debilitating effects of loneliness and fear. (Author)

Compared suicide notes of individuals using active and passive methods for suicide for presence of 50 classifications regarding psychodynamics of perturbation, lethality, relations, self-cognitions, etc. Two sets of notes resembled each other closely, only difference being that active group more often cited rejection by significant other as…

A workshop group (didactic) participated in an educational program emphasizing lecture presentations and small group discussion. The second group (experiential) confronted, examined, and shared feelings and reactions to grief and death. Data indicated experiential group showed a significant reduction in fear of death as a result of the workshop.…

An actualized group of helping professionals and a nonactualized group of mental patients visualized their own aging process. The actualized group had more successful completion, indicating a fantasy of dying a natural death in old age. Ability to face death appears to be a concomitant of actualized authentic existence. (JAC)

Interviewed bereaved persons shortly after the death of a close family member and 18 months later. Respondents were grouped according to mode of death. The short-term chronic illness group made the most favorable adjustment. Sudden death and long-term chronic illness death groups sustained higher intensities of bereavement. (Author/RC)