Kathleen V. Cowles

The concept of grief: An analysis of classical and contemporary thought

Abstract Grief has been a topic of focused inquiry for a number of years. However, in spite of the attention given to this significant aspect of human existence, progress in gaining a clear understanding of grief has been relatively slow. This situation is at least partially due to the existence of a conceptual problem concerning the definition of grief making it difficult to identify a grief response and to differentiate among grief and a variety of related concepts. Persons interested in grief have had to rely on their individual interpretations of the concept and, as a result, have generated a plethora of confusing terms to address the experience. In this article, the results of a systematic inquiry to define grief as a concept are presented. The findings provide a synthesis of existing thought, suggestions for the reconceptualization of grief and grief outcomes, and guidelines for further study.

Meanings Adult Daughters Attach to a Parent's Death

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how meanings adult daughters attached to their parents death influenced the duration of their grief The sample consisted of 67 adult daughters, ages 35 to 69 years, who had lost a parent 1 to 3 years earlier Respondents were asked to explore their perceptions about their parents death, their lifelong parent-daughter relationship, and any lifestyle changes that occurred after a parents death. Categories were identified from the interview questions, and themes within each category were developed from the interview data Results indicated that how respondents experienced a parents death-including their guilt, regrets, or anticipatory grief, shifts in other family relationships, and changes in lifestyle-influenced the duration of their grief. The findings suggest that the subjective experience of grief may be an important area for further research as well as for assessment and intervention.

When a loved one has AIDS: care for the significant other.

1. The significant others of persons with AIDS, whether they assume the role of primary caregiver or not, have a number of unique experiences, concerns, and needs specifically related to their situations. 2. During the initial period following the diagnosis of a loved one, the significant others indicated their primary needs as sensitivity to their situations, assistance in securing appropriate information, and psychological support in dealing with uncertainty, and a general sense of dread. 3. Other common concerns and needs expressed by the significant others included support and reassurance, assistance in adjusting to a myriad of personal relationship changes, and help in meeting needs for active involvement in some form of AIDS-related work.

Interdisciplinary death education in a nursing school

Abstract An undergraduate elective course in death, dying, and bereavement was developed in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing in 1973. It has been offered eight times since that year, with over 400 students having completed it. The evolution of the course is described along with the development of objectives, selection of content, sequence of presentation of materials, identification of suitable instructional methods, and methods of evaluation. The value of a weekend workshop within the context of the course is discussed in detail. The content chosen for emphasis included dealing with death, ethical and legal issues, postdeath activities, grief and survivorship, and community resources. Course assignments and expectations, along with a variety of instructional aides, are described. Evaluations at the end of the course were generally positive about the course content and the weekend workshop. A follow-up questionnaire based on the 13 objectives of the course identified three objective...

Preparing and presenting a single one-hour lecture/discussion on death and dying

Abstract Death educators today have an excellent opportunity, as well as a responsibility, to extend their services beyond the formal classroom into the greater community. Because they are frequently asked to bring together and present to general audiences a comprehensive overview of the broad subject of death, dying, and bereavement, the following plan for preparation and presentation of a one-hour overview to a lay audience is suggested. The authors encourage readers to share their ideas or comment on the proposed plan.