Friday, April 28, 2006
Report on bereavement and grief research
http://www.cfah.org/pdfs/griefreport.pdf
This excellent report published by the US Center for Advancement of Health contains the summary of an extensive literature review on research on bereavement. It also illustrates how research can be used to improve care.
It was published in an issue of Death Studies but the full version is also available on the above website.
This excellent report published by the US Center for Advancement of Health contains the summary of an extensive literature review on research on bereavement. It also illustrates how research can be used to improve care.
It was published in an issue of Death Studies but the full version is also available on the above website.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Sorrow and solace. The social world of the cemetery
Bachelor Philip
Sorrow and solace. The social world of the cemetery
Baywood Publishing Company, 2004
Though published in the US, this book is based on research in a cemetery in Australia. The author says “ large urban memorial parks are literally hives of activity by recently bereaved persons, and they hold a place among the most visited places in Western communities.” This study is about their importance to mourners and ways in which people draw meaning and value from their commemorative activities when they visit cemeteries. As we approach Easter, one can see this reflected in British graveyards when brightly coloured flowers can often be seen on many graves.
The book commences with some details on cemeteries, attitudes to death today, theories of grief and current research on the subject of bereavement.
The second section covers visitation patterns as well as social and cultural factors which affect grave visitations. For example, the author discovered distinct national variations in visitations. He also found that there is a greater total volume of visits made to graves of parents while graves or memorials of spouses and children receive more frequent visits.
The third section covers various issues around the experience of being bereaved and the emotions surrounding visiting a graveyard. Two primary emotions were identified. The first, not surprisingly, was sorrow but the second was solace. Through regular visitation soon after a loss, for most people, the cemetery progressively transforms from a “burial” place to a “healing” place. The reasons for visitations, their frequency, the activities when visiting (eg placing flowers, crying, prayer) are also described, as are reasons for non-visitation. This is a unique book and the author provides a great deal of short extracts from people who were interviewed for the study.
Philip Bachelor has also written a simpler book:
Life after death. Understanding bereavement and working through grief. 24 real life stories
Melbourne: Hill of Content 2002
(For specific aspects of bereavement, do consider contacting me for references from the library at St Christopher’s Hospice:
d.brady@stchristophers.org.uk)
Sorrow and solace. The social world of the cemetery
Baywood Publishing Company, 2004
Though published in the US, this book is based on research in a cemetery in Australia. The author says “ large urban memorial parks are literally hives of activity by recently bereaved persons, and they hold a place among the most visited places in Western communities.” This study is about their importance to mourners and ways in which people draw meaning and value from their commemorative activities when they visit cemeteries. As we approach Easter, one can see this reflected in British graveyards when brightly coloured flowers can often be seen on many graves.
The book commences with some details on cemeteries, attitudes to death today, theories of grief and current research on the subject of bereavement.
The second section covers visitation patterns as well as social and cultural factors which affect grave visitations. For example, the author discovered distinct national variations in visitations. He also found that there is a greater total volume of visits made to graves of parents while graves or memorials of spouses and children receive more frequent visits.
The third section covers various issues around the experience of being bereaved and the emotions surrounding visiting a graveyard. Two primary emotions were identified. The first, not surprisingly, was sorrow but the second was solace. Through regular visitation soon after a loss, for most people, the cemetery progressively transforms from a “burial” place to a “healing” place. The reasons for visitations, their frequency, the activities when visiting (eg placing flowers, crying, prayer) are also described, as are reasons for non-visitation. This is a unique book and the author provides a great deal of short extracts from people who were interviewed for the study.
Philip Bachelor has also written a simpler book:
Life after death. Understanding bereavement and working through grief. 24 real life stories
Melbourne: Hill of Content 2002
(For specific aspects of bereavement, do consider contacting me for references from the library at St Christopher’s Hospice:
d.brady@stchristophers.org.uk)
