Richard D Goldstein1, Carter R Petty2, Sue E Morris3, Melanie Human4, Hein Odendaal4, Amy J Elliott5, Deborah Tobacco5, Jyoti Angal5, Lucy Brink4, Holly G Prigerson6. 1. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: Richard.goldstein@childrens.harvard.edu. 2. Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa. 5. Center for Pediaetric and Community Research, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls, SD, USA. 6. Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Transitional objects provide security and symbolic connection with valued others when separated from them. Bereaved parents often keep, cherish and visit saved objects of their deceased child. This research examined the hypothesis that these objects behave as transitional objects of grief in bereaved mothers during three years following their infants' deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. METHODS: Questionnaires were administered asking about the presence of kept objects and momentos from their deceased infant, and the frequency, location and emotions experienced during visits to them. Diagnostic criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) were assessed using the Parental Bereavement Questionnaire. RESULTS: 98.6% of the mothers reported having transitional objects of grief, and most visited them more frequently than once per week regardless of PGD status. Mothers with PGD reported significantly more distress when visiting the objects, especially those visiting them privately. Mothers with PGD who felt comforted by the objects had lower risk for finding life meaningless or finding discussion about the infant intolerable. CONCLUSIONS: Transitional objects of grief are common and associated with key aspects of grief. There is a need to understand the potential therapeutic uses of transitional objects in promoting bereavement adjustment.
BACKGROUND: Transitional objects provide security and symbolic connection with valued others when separated from them. Bereaved parents often keep, cherish and visit saved objects of their deceased child. This research examined the hypothesis that these objects behave as transitional objects of grief in bereaved mothers during three years following their infants' deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. METHODS: Questionnaires were administered asking about the presence of kept objects and momentos from their deceased infant, and the frequency, location and emotions experienced during visits to them. Diagnostic criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) were assessed using the Parental Bereavement Questionnaire. RESULTS: 98.6% of the mothers reported having transitional objects of grief, and most visited them more frequently than once per week regardless of PGD status. Mothers with PGD reported significantly more distress when visiting the objects, especially those visiting them privately. Mothers with PGD who felt comforted by the objects had lower risk for finding life meaningless or finding discussion about the infant intolerable. CONCLUSIONS: Transitional objects of grief are common and associated with key aspects of grief. There is a need to understand the potential therapeutic uses of transitional objects in promoting bereavement adjustment.