Culturally Based Interventions for Families Whose Child Dies

Abstract

This study reports the results of eighteen Korean families living in South Korea, twenty-five Chinese families living in Taiwan, and twenty-two American families whose child had died from cancer. All the families were interviewed in their own language and in their homes. All interviews were translated and transcribed into English as needed. The impact of the child's death from cancer on the family has four broad aspects: the manifestations of grief, the experiences of support or nonsupport, the meaning of life and of death, and changes in attitudes. Illustrations are given of the similarities and differences among the American, Chinese and Korean families in their responses.