Transitional objects of grief.
Journal
Comprehensive psychiatry
ISSN: 1532-8384
Titre abrégé: Compr Psychiatry
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0372612
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 Jan 2020
11 Jan 2020
Historique:
received:
13
08
2019
revised:
02
01
2020
accepted:
06
01
2020
pubmed:
25
1
2020
medline:
25
1
2020
entrez:
25
1
2020
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Transitional objects provide security and symbolic connection with valued others when separated from them. Bereaved parents often keep, cherish and visit saved objects of their deceased child. This research examined the hypothesis that these objects behave as transitional objects of grief in bereaved mothers during three years following their infants' deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Questionnaires were administered asking about the presence of kept objects and momentos from their deceased infant, and the frequency, location and emotions experienced during visits to them. Diagnostic criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) were assessed using the Parental Bereavement Questionnaire. 98.6% of the mothers reported having transitional objects of grief, and most visited them more frequently than once per week regardless of PGD status. Mothers with PGD reported significantly more distress when visiting the objects, especially those visiting them privately. Mothers with PGD who felt comforted by the objects had lower risk for finding life meaningless or finding discussion about the infant intolerable. Transitional objects of grief are common and associated with key aspects of grief. There is a need to understand the potential therapeutic uses of transitional objects in promoting bereavement adjustment.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Transitional objects provide security and symbolic connection with valued others when separated from them. Bereaved parents often keep, cherish and visit saved objects of their deceased child. This research examined the hypothesis that these objects behave as transitional objects of grief in bereaved mothers during three years following their infants' deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
METHODS
METHODS
Questionnaires were administered asking about the presence of kept objects and momentos from their deceased infant, and the frequency, location and emotions experienced during visits to them. Diagnostic criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) were assessed using the Parental Bereavement Questionnaire.
RESULTS
RESULTS
98.6% of the mothers reported having transitional objects of grief, and most visited them more frequently than once per week regardless of PGD status. Mothers with PGD reported significantly more distress when visiting the objects, especially those visiting them privately. Mothers with PGD who felt comforted by the objects had lower risk for finding life meaningless or finding discussion about the infant intolerable.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Transitional objects of grief are common and associated with key aspects of grief. There is a need to understand the potential therapeutic uses of transitional objects in promoting bereavement adjustment.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31978784
pii: S0010-440X(20)30003-1
doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152161
pmc: PMC7351592
mid: NIHMS1551528
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
152161Subventions
Organisme : NICHD NIH HHS
ID : U01 HD055154
Pays : United States
Organisme : NICHD NIH HHS
ID : U01 HD045991
Pays : United States
Organisme : NICHD NIH HHS
ID : U01 HD045935
Pays : United States
Organisme : NIAAA NIH HHS
ID : U01 AA016501
Pays : United States
Organisme : NICHD NIH HHS
ID : U01 HD055155
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.
Références
Death Stud. 2006 Jun;30(5):403-28
pubmed: 16610156
Death Stud. 2006 Oct;30(8):767-76
pubmed: 16972374
J Clin Psychol. 2010 Jul;66(7):791-812
pubmed: 20527057
Death Stud. 2005 Jul-Aug;29(6):477-94
pubmed: 16187475
Adv Neonatal Care. 2017 Oct;17(5):347-353
pubmed: 28891820
JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 Dec 1;71(12):1332-9
pubmed: 25338187
Depress Anxiety. 2011 Feb;28(2):103-17
pubmed: 21284063
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2003 Feb;71(1):110-7
pubmed: 12602431
Behav Res Ther. 2006 Nov;44(11):1657-72
pubmed: 16457778
Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2015 Jul;7(2):129-48
pubmed: 25708231
Arch Dis Child. 2015 Oct;100(10):984-8
pubmed: 25699563
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1996 Feb;70(2):271-82
pubmed: 8636882
Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007 Dec;257(8):453-61
pubmed: 17629727
Death Stud. 2002 Apr;26(3):209-22
pubmed: 11973835
JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 May 1;74(5):435-436
pubmed: 28355449
Pediatrics. 2018 May;141(5):
pubmed: 29712764
Curr Opin Support Palliat Care. 2015 Mar;9(1):46-51
pubmed: 25588204
J Palliat Med. 2019 Sep;22(9):1124-1128
pubmed: 30892150
Death Stud. 1999 Apr-May;23(3):197-224
pubmed: 10848151
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1999 Apr;67(2):212-8
pubmed: 10224731
Trials. 2019 Jul 9;20(1):408
pubmed: 31288829
Psychol Med. 2019 Oct;49(14):2370-2378
pubmed: 30409237
J Clin Psychol. 2009 Oct;65(10):1127-36
pubmed: 19437503
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2017 Apr 04;137(7):538-539
pubmed: 28383227
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2007 Apr;33(4):537-48
pubmed: 17363759
J Nerv Ment Dis. 2016 Oct;204(10):758-763
pubmed: 27327776
PLoS Med. 2009 Aug;6(8):e1000121
pubmed: 19652695
World Psychiatry. 2013 Oct;12(3):198-206
pubmed: 24096776
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 1982 Oct;52(4):664-678
pubmed: 7148988
J Clin Psychiatry. 2017 Nov/Dec;78(9):1363-1368
pubmed: 28445631
Death Stud. 2013 Apr;37(4):311-42
pubmed: 24520890
Dev Psychobiol. 2005 Nov;47(3):253-67
pubmed: 16252293
Death Stud. 2001 Jan-Feb;25(1):51-66
pubmed: 11503762
J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2019 Sep;26(3):321-338
pubmed: 30488260
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2007 Apr;75(2):277-84
pubmed: 17469885
J Palliat Med. 2013 Feb;16(2):198-202
pubmed: 23098631
Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2004 Jul;30(7):878-90
pubmed: 15200694