Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-28DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2723776
Hannah E Jones, Jennifer A Theiss
{"title":"\"He worries that I might die too\": A thematic co-occurrence analysis of interdependence after partner/parental death.","authors":"Hannah E Jones, Jennifer A Theiss","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2723776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2723776","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The death of a partner and parent creates profound upheaval for surviving families, reshaping everyday functioning and requiring renegotiation of roles and routines. This study examines how interdependence changes in surviving parent-emerging adult child dyads (ages 15-25) following partner/parental death. Open-ended responses from 45 parent-child dyads were analyzed using thematic co-occurrence analysis, guided by relational turbulence theory. Parents and children described interference and facilitation from one another, as well as partner influence explicitly linked to bereavement-driven role and routine reconfiguration (bereavement-evoked interference and facilitation). Co-occurrence findings revealed a ubiquitous facilitation pattern and an additional pattern shared across parents' interference from a child and children's interference from a parent. Findings clarify how bereavement reorganizes family interdependence and offer practical guidance for supporting surviving parent-child dyads as they renegotiate roles, routines, and coping following death.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148839482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-27DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2724107
Seyed Aref Rezazadeh Yazd
{"title":"Psychological interventions for death anxiety and distress: Systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Seyed Aref Rezazadeh Yazd","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2724107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2724107","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mortality-oriented psychological interventions target death anxiety and related distress, but their effects vary across studies and population contexts. I systematically reviewed 45 controlled studies published from January 2019 through May 2026 and meta-analyzed eligible immediate post-intervention outcomes. The primary dependency-aware multilevel random-effects model included 31 effects from 30 study clusters (2,149 participants) and favored intervention. Heterogeneity was substantial, and the prediction interval included null and unfavorable effects. The average effect therefore warrants cautious clinical interpretation. Sensitivity analyses preserved the positive pooled direction. Risk-of-bias concerns were common. Exploratory moderator analyses did not identify reliable differences by population context, study design, or outcome construct; an intervention-approach omnibus test was nominally significant but too sparse for comparative ranking. Mortality-oriented interventions appear beneficial on average, but current evidence does not establish uniform benefit, a preferred approach, or reliable treatment-matching rules. Future trials should prespecify mortality-specific outcomes, recruit adequate samples, and extend follow-up across contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148839510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Indirect paths to posttraumatic growth: The role of war exposure and rumination.","authors":"Orit Taubman-Ben-Ari, Oded Basok, Matan Mordehai Popko, Amit Raizman, Meital Navon-Eyal","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2723777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2723777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exposure to armed conflicts profoundly impacts individuals and their communities but provides an opportunity to experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). Whereas most studies examined the direct exposure to the traumatic event, this study investigated the direct and indirect links between type of war exposure (self-exposure, close others' exposure, acquaintances' exposure), and rumination (deliberate and intrusive) to PTG in Israelis following the Israel-Hamas war. Participants (n = 455) completed measures of war exposure, rumination, and PTG. Exposures of close-others and acquaintances were associated with higher PTG, partly through increased deliberate rumination. The theoretical significance lays in understanding that exposure to trauma through others in one's community may be more strongly linked with PTG than previously acknowledged, and highlighting the positive role of deliberate rumination. Attention to those who have been exposed to traumatic events indirectly, and interventions that encourage deliberate rumination, are essential for empowering individuals within their communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148825989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A pilot study on specialized grief therapy training and its impact on Israeli therapists' perceived competence in addressing the aftermath of October 7.","authors":"Avital Gershfeld-Litvin, Itay Ressler, Tsipi Hanalis-Miller, Nitsan Doron, Noa Beiman, Sharon Ziv-Beiman","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2723778","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2723778","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This research was conducted within an emergency training program following the events of October 7, 2023, and examined whether a specialized course improved therapists' perceived competence in treating traumatic grief. Relationships between death anxiety, prior knowledge, and perceived competence were assessed using a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through a quasi-experimental within-subjects approach with 158 therapists, 47 of whom completed pretest-posttest. The Grief Counseling Experience and Training Survey, Grief Counseling Competency Scale, and Death Anxiety Scale, were used as measures. Qualitative data were gathered through structured interviews with 26 participants. Results showed that the training significantly increased therapists' perceived competence and perceived ability to manage grief-related cases. Participants reported gains in knowledge, skills, and emotional and personal growth. Findings highlight the value of integrating cognitive and emotional components in training and suggest that a structured program may contribute to strengthening therapists' perceived competence when working with traumatic grief.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148825964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-26DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2723775
May-Liss Kvitne, Lillian Bruland Selseng, Sari Kaarina Lindeman
{"title":"Volunteer helpers' perspectives on establishing contact with drug‑related death bereaved: The role of civil society organisations in reaching marginalised groups.","authors":"May-Liss Kvitne, Lillian Bruland Selseng, Sari Kaarina Lindeman","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2723775","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2723775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines how helpers in civil society organizations (CSOs) understand conditions shaping their efforts to establish contact with individuals bereaved after a drug‑related death. Drug‑related death bereavement is marked by stigma, social withdrawal, and limited access to early support, making initial contact challenging. Based on six focus groups analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, three themes emerged: Increased Visibility in Society, Guidance to Services, and Tailored Services for Diverse Needs. Findings show that societal stigma and limited recognition make bereaved individuals less visible, that unclear service pathways hinder early outreach, and that diverse bereavement experiences require flexible, low‑threshold support. CSO helpers described themselves as filling gaps in the formal system while emphasizing the need for stronger coordination with public services. The study highlights the value of community‑based support within a public‑health approach and suggests that improving early contact may reduce isolation and strengthen long‑term recovery for bereaved following drug‑related death.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148817716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-26DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2723780
Aditi Lohan, Julie Dean, Noor Yousef, Keren Ludski, Rachel Ficinus, Siobhan Loughnan, Frances M Boyle
{"title":"Social support needs of bereaved parents and family members after perinatal loss: A qualitative study.","authors":"Aditi Lohan, Julie Dean, Noor Yousef, Keren Ludski, Rachel Ficinus, Siobhan Loughnan, Frances M Boyle","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2723780","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2723780","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Perinatal loss is a profoundly distressing experience for many families. While family and friends are often primary sources of informal support for bereaved parents, they may find it challenging to provide the support parents need. This study explores the social support experiences of parents and family members navigating perinatal bereavement in Australia with their informal social networks, drawing on semi-structured interviews with 20 parents and 5 family members. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three themes, along with seven sub-themes reflecting how informal support was enacted, negotiated, and experienced across interpersonal and social contexts. By integrating the Interaction Model of Informal Social Support following Bereavement (IM-ISSB) and Compassionate Communities approach, the findings illuminate relational dynamics, unmet needs and opportunities to strengthen perinatal loss grief literacy. Overall, the findings reinforce that supporting families after perinatal loss is a shared community responsibility requiring sustained commitment to compassion and grief education.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148826016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-24DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2716665
Iris Parra Jounou, Solenne Blanc, Janet Delgado, Mar Vallès-Poch, María Victoria Martínez-López, Rosana Triviño-Caballero, David Rodríguez-Arias, Claudia Gamondi
{"title":"Patients' experiences of unbearable suffering in assisted dying requests in Spain and Switzerland: A qualitative study of common patterns of expressions.","authors":"Iris Parra Jounou, Solenne Blanc, Janet Delgado, Mar Vallès-Poch, María Victoria Martínez-López, Rosana Triviño-Caballero, David Rodríguez-Arias, Claudia Gamondi","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2716665","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2716665","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In most countries where assisted dying is regulated, unbearable suffering is a key eligibility criterion. Yet, due to its deeply subjective nature, the assessment of suffering by third parties remains a challenge. Few studies have examined how patients themselves describe this experience. This cross-national qualitative study explores how individuals requesting assisted dying express and describe their experiences of unbearable suffering in Spain and Switzerland. Two parallel projects conducted between 2022 and 2025 used in-depth, semi-structured interviews with people seeking assisted dying. Combined datasets from 46 participants were analyzed using secondary data analysis, to identify common patterns of expressions using metatheme analysis. Five patterns of expression of unbearable suffering emerged. Listening to patients' own accounts offers a clearer understanding of the complexity of unbearable suffering. These findings may support more nuanced assessments, guide healthcare professionals and families, and inform public debate on assisted dying.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148808480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-22DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2722511
Eda Özgür
{"title":"From the reconstruction of meaning to the reconstruction of security: The broaden-and-build cycle of continuing bonds.","authors":"Eda Özgür","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2722511","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2722511","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This commentary aims to explain the phenomenon of post-loss growth from the perspective of attachment theory by commenting on the article by Malkinson et al. (2026) on post-loss growth. Drawing on Mikulincer and Shaver's broaden-and-build cycle of attachment security, <i>the Broaden-and-Build Cycle of Continuing Bonds</i> is proposed as a conceptual model for understanding the bereavement process. This commentary argues that the meaning reconstruction approach following loss can support not only the reconstruction of meaning but also the restructuring of Internal Working Models regarding the relationship with the deceased, thereby enabling a transition toward earned attachment security. It is further proposed that earned security enhances the individual's psychological flexibility, allowing individuals to enter the Broaden-and-Build Cycle of Continuing Bonds, reconstruct the meaning of the self, and ultimately experience post-loss growth. In addition, the functioning of this cycle is theoretically explained in individuals with secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment orientations.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148789291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-20DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2716700
Olivia Shaw, Juliane A Kloess, Elizabeth Gilchrist, Aileen Burnett
{"title":"A qualitative exploration of disenfranchised grief in men who killed a loved one while experiencing psychosis.","authors":"Olivia Shaw, Juliane A Kloess, Elizabeth Gilchrist, Aileen Burnett","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2716700","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2716700","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Grief is a universal human experience; however, not all grief is socially acknowledged and supported. This qualitative study aimed to explore how grief is experienced by men who have killed a loved one while experiencing mental health difficulties. Six men who received treatment in a high-secure forensic hospital in the UK took part in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, which generated three superordinate themes: (1) Reconstructing my divided identity, (2) Navigating grief under restrictions, and (3) Living in the aftermath of the homicide. These themes reflect the disruption and gradual rebuilding of identity following participants' loss, the challenge of grieving while in a high secure hospital, and the ongoing struggle to make sense of, and live with, their actions. Findings highlight the role of moral injury, stigma, continuing bonds, and disenfranchized grief in shaping participants' lived experiences.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148788861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Death StudiesPub Date : 2026-08-19DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2716734
Sarah Gill, Sharni Whitburn, Melissa Oxlad
{"title":"Parents' perceptions of their children's behavior following the perinatal death of a sibling: A qualitative interview study.","authors":"Sarah Gill, Sharni Whitburn, Melissa Oxlad","doi":"10.1080/07481187.2026.2716734","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2716734","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Perinatal death can have adverse health outcomes for parents and extended family, including siblings. Most perinatal death research focuses on parental impacts; little is known about the impact on siblings. We explored parents' perceptions of their children's behavior following the perinatal death of a sibling. Seven parents (five females and two males) participated in semi-structured interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed six themes: 1) Noticeable heightened emotions; 2) Visible expression of anger; 3) Observable social withdrawal and isolation; 4) Evident fear and anxiety; 5) Behavioral regression across multiple domains; and 6) Seeking and maintaining connection to siblings. Our findings suggest a need for increased education and support for families. Along with incorporating grief education into the school curriculum, increased education for healthcare professionals may support person-centered care and increased awareness and recognition of sibling grief.</p>","PeriodicalId":11041,"journal":{"name":"Death Studies","volume":" ","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148789288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}