Voices of middle childhood children who lost a mother

Children's comprehension of death and how well they cope is fundamentally affected by their stage of development when they are bereaved. This qualitative descriptive research examines the emotions and experiences of children in middle childhood who have lost their mothers. Twenty-two participants between the ages of 10 and 12 years were purposefully selected to share their experiences during individual semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to explore the data. Particular recommendations are made to help bereaved children develop greater resilience and the coping strategies to deal with their traumatic loss.

Automated summary

Children's understanding and coping with death after losing a mother are significantly influenced by their developmental stage. Findings from qualitative research suggest that bereaved children require specific support and recommendations to build resilience and develop coping strategies.