Communication About Death Between Mothers and Adolescent Sons

Most children will experience the death of a loved one in their lifetime and will need to develop healthy grieving patterns. Communication between parents and children is a key ingredient in facilitating this development. Current opinions about bibliotherapy, using a book to assist in healing, suggest that books provide understanding about grief and death and open channels of communication. Although the use of bibliotherapy is gaining popularity, little research exists about its efficacy. Utilizing the book The Bridge to Terabithia, this study evaluated the facilitation of communication about death between 19 dyads of mother and adolescent sons. Their answers and comments illustrate the effectiveness of bibliotherapy in opening channels of communication about death. The results of this study support the efficacy of bibliotherapy.

Autorentext

She is the mother of seven children and also a practicing school psychologist. Between her experiences as a mother and a school psychologist she has gained into insight into the impact unexpected situations can have on childhood equilibrium. She obtained an Ed.S. in school psychology from Brigham Young University and is an advocate of bibiotherapy.