Families in which a parent has died will show a variety of reactions and recovery patterns. This article examines several factors which contribute to this variance. Within the framework of a developmental role analysis of the family system, the influence of the stage of the family life cycle, the roles of the deceased, previous patterns of role allocation, and the type of death are discussed. It is suggested that “person oriented” families, characterized by achieved roles, open communication, and flexible power structures, will more effectively reallocate family roles following the death of a spouse/parent. On contrast, “position oriented” families, characterized by ascribed roles, closed communication, and relatively inflexible power structures, will be too dependent on cultural norms and will lack the role-reallocating mechanisms necessary to ensure adequate family functioning following such a death.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
NyeF. I. and BerardoF. M., The Family, Its Structure and Interaction, The Macmillan Co., New York, 1973.
2.
DuvalE. M., Marriage and Family Development, 5th edition, J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1977.
3.
NyeF.I., Role Structure and Analysis of the Family, Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, 1976.
4.
BernsteinB., A Sociolinguistic Approach to Socialization: With Some Reference to Educability, in Language and Poverty: Perspectives on a Theme, WilliamsF. (ed.), Markham, Chicago, pp. 25–61, 1970.
5.
AldousJ., Family Careers: Developmental Change in Families, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1978.
6.
TurnerR. H., Family Interaction, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1970.
7.
National Institute of Health Publication, Coping with Cancer, 1980.
8.
RossiA., Equality between the Sexes: An Immodest Proposal, Daedalus, 93, pp. 607–652, 1964.
9.
RainwaterL., Family Design: Marital Sexuality, Family Size and Contracepting, Aldine Press, Chicago, 1965.
10.
BottE., Family and Social Network: Roles, Norms, and External Relationships in Ordinary Urban Families, Free Press, New York, 1971.
11.
VollmanR. R.GanzertA.PicherL., and WilliamsW. V., The Reactions of Family Systems to Sudden and Unexpected Death, Omega, 2, pp. 101–106, 1971.
12.
GlickI. O.WeissR. S., and ParkesC. M., The First Year of Bereavement, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1974.
13.
PincusL., Death and the Family, Vintage Books, New York, 1974.
14.
BellR. R., Marriage and Family Interaction, Dorsey Press, Homewood, Illinois, 1963.
15.
MathisonJ., A Cross-Cultural View of Widowhood, Omega, I, pp, 201–218, 1970.
16.
FriedmanJ. and SjogrenJ., Assets of the Elderly as They Retire, Social Security Administration, Social Security Bulletin, 44:1, pp. 16–31, 1981.
17.
KastenbaumR. J., Death, Society and Human Experience, C. V. Mosby, St. Louis, 1981.
18.
SandersC. M., Comparison of Younger and Older Spouses in Bereavement Outcome, Omega, 1l:3,pp. 217–232, 1980.
19.
SilvermanP. and EnglanderS., The Widow's View of Her Dependent Children, Omega, 6:1, pp, 3–19, 1975.
20.
BowenM., Family Reaction to Death, in Family Therapy, GuerinP. (ed.), Gardner Press, Inc., New York, 1976.
21.
CohenP.DizenhuzI., and WingetC., Family Adaptation to Terminal Illness and Death of a Parent, Social Casework, pp. 223–228, 1977.
22.
BonnardA., Truancy and Pilfering Associated with Bereavement, in Adolescents: Psychoanalytic Approach to Problems and Therapy, Loander and Schneer (eds.), Harper Brothers, New York, 1961.
23.
EliotT. D., Handling Family Strains and Shocks, in Family, Marriage and Parenthood, BeckerH. and HillR. (eds.), D. C. Heath, Boston, 1948.
24.
GregoryI., Anteretrospective Data Following Childhood Loss of a Parent, Archives of General Psychiatry, 13; pp. 110–120, 1965.
25.
BloodR. D. and WolfeD. M., Husbands and Wives: The Dynamics of Married Living, Free Press, New York, 1960.
26.
LindemannE., The Symptomatology and Management of Acute Grief, American Journal of Psychiatry, /01, pp. 141–148, 1944.
27.
FultonR. and FultonJ., A Psychosocial Aspect of Terminal Care: Anticipatory Grief, Omega, 2, pp. 91–100, 1971.
28.
ParkesC. M., Determinants of Outcome Following Bereavement, Omega, 6:4, pp. 303–323, 1975.
29.
CareyR. G., Weathering Widowhood: Problems and Adjustment of the Widowed During the First Year, Omega, /0:2, pp. 163–174, 1979.
30.
BallJ. F., Widow's Grief: The Impact of Age and Mode of Death, Omega, 7:4, pp. 307–333, 1977.
31.
SandersC. M., A Comparison of Adult Bereavement in the Death of a Spouse, Child, and Parent, Omega, 10:4, pp. 303–322, 1980.
32.
TroupS. B. and GreeneW. A., The Patient, Death and the Family, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1974.
33.
HavighurstR. J. and AlbrechtR., Older People, Longmans, Green, New York, 1953.
34.
SolomonB., Dynamics of Social Functioning in Later Life, in Contemporary Gerontology, BirrenJ. E. (ed.), University of Southern California Press, Pasadena, 1969.
