Adolescent reactions to sibling death: perceptions of mothers, fathers, and teenagers

Fourteen families in which a child had died participated in this study; the mother, father, and one teenager from each family were interviewed. Mothers held significantly different views of their teenagers' self-concept and grief than did the fathers or the teenagers. Fathers' responses resembled those of their teenagers. In addition to accenting the need to study more fully the family dynamics involved when a child dies, the results call into serious question commonly held views regarding the accuracy and reliability of mothers' perceptions of bereaved children. (Abstract amended)