Effects of Parental Death on Sibling Relationships
Article 1:
Mack, Kristin Y. (2004). The Effects of Early Parental Death on Sibling Relationships in Later Life, Journal of Death and Dying, 49(2), 131-148
1. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), this article studies whether adults who have experienced parental death at an early age are closer and have more contact with their siblings compared to adults who were fortunate not to experience such mishap and raised in intact families. Also, this article compares the closeness and contact between adult siblings who have experienced maternal death versus paternal death at an early age.
2. Utilizing the volume of phone calls, letters, and in-person contact statistics …show more content…
& Woolley, Michael E. (2015). Patterns in Adult Sibling Relationships After the Death of One or Both Parents, Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 11(1), 74-89
1. The author believes that regardless whether siblings have a close relationship or not, the death of a parent will affect the sibling system and cause them to reassess their relationship with each other. This article takes a look at the relationship siblings had with each other before the death of one or both parents versus the relationship they have after the fact and whether this tragedy has impacted their relationship positively or negatively.
2. The patterns recognized in this study were either positive, negative, mixed or no change. The positive changes were as follows: Siblings that were already close before parental death grew even closer, and lastly siblings grew even closer when they realize they only have each other as family now, and siblings became closer as they took on new family roles/responsibilities which filled a void in each other’s lives after the death of a parent. The negative changes were: siblings were close before the fact but grew apart due to the unequal amount of money/estate the parents have left, siblings were never close and the death of a parent didn’t bring them any closer so it confirms the distance, and finally this traumatic experience has angered and pushed siblings further away from each other. The mixed finding in this study was that siblings …show more content…
(2002). Sibling Support systems in childhood after a parent dies, Journal of Death and Dying, 45 (4), 299-320
1. This article researches on the topic of what happens in sibling relationships when children experience the death of a parent at the age of 3-10 and how important of a role siblings play in each other’s lives during the mourning experience when the other parent is emotionally unavailable. The study was based on interviews conducted with two sets of four sisters about their experience of parental death and sibling relationship.
2. Once this study interviews and compares the two families of four sisters, it is understood that sibling relationship after the death of one parent is unique for each family and individual. In Family A, the sisters were helpful, had a sense of togetherness, sense of thankfulness, helped each other during the difficult times and accepted the eldest sister as the new leader/mother for the younger sisters. In Family B, no one was willing to accept a new leader and there was constant tension and rivalry between each other. But it is because of the intense rivalry and constant conflict that each sister were able to protect themselves and become emotionally stronger. The fact that they were able to stay united as a family even with all the conflict is what helped them through the mourning process. The author concludes that regardless of the family chemistry, childhood sibling relationships are very important during the mourning process
Article 1:
Mack, Kristin Y. (2004). The Effects of Early Parental Death on Sibling Relationships in Later Life, Journal of Death and Dying, 49(2), 131-148
1. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), this article studies whether adults who have experienced parental death at an early age are closer and have more contact with their siblings compared to adults who were fortunate not to experience such mishap and raised in intact families. Also, this article compares the closeness and contact between adult siblings who have experienced maternal death versus paternal death at an early age.
2. Utilizing the volume of phone calls, letters, and in-person contact statistics …show more content…
& Woolley, Michael E. (2015). Patterns in Adult Sibling Relationships After the Death of One or Both Parents, Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 11(1), 74-89
1. The author believes that regardless whether siblings have a close relationship or not, the death of a parent will affect the sibling system and cause them to reassess their relationship with each other. This article takes a look at the relationship siblings had with each other before the death of one or both parents versus the relationship they have after the fact and whether this tragedy has impacted their relationship positively or negatively.
2. The patterns recognized in this study were either positive, negative, mixed or no change. The positive changes were as follows: Siblings that were already close before parental death grew even closer, and lastly siblings grew even closer when they realize they only have each other as family now, and siblings became closer as they took on new family roles/responsibilities which filled a void in each other’s lives after the death of a parent. The negative changes were: siblings were close before the fact but grew apart due to the unequal amount of money/estate the parents have left, siblings were never close and the death of a parent didn’t bring them any closer so it confirms the distance, and finally this traumatic experience has angered and pushed siblings further away from each other. The mixed finding in this study was that siblings …show more content…
(2002). Sibling Support systems in childhood after a parent dies, Journal of Death and Dying, 45 (4), 299-320
1. This article researches on the topic of what happens in sibling relationships when children experience the death of a parent at the age of 3-10 and how important of a role siblings play in each other’s lives during the mourning experience when the other parent is emotionally unavailable. The study was based on interviews conducted with two sets of four sisters about their experience of parental death and sibling relationship.
2. Once this study interviews and compares the two families of four sisters, it is understood that sibling relationship after the death of one parent is unique for each family and individual. In Family A, the sisters were helpful, had a sense of togetherness, sense of thankfulness, helped each other during the difficult times and accepted the eldest sister as the new leader/mother for the younger sisters. In Family B, no one was willing to accept a new leader and there was constant tension and rivalry between each other. But it is because of the intense rivalry and constant conflict that each sister were able to protect themselves and become emotionally stronger. The fact that they were able to stay united as a family even with all the conflict is what helped them through the mourning process. The author concludes that regardless of the family chemistry, childhood sibling relationships are very important during the mourning process