Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan: A Biopsychosocial Perspective PDF
Preview Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan: A Biopsychosocial Perspective
Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan A Biopsychosocial Perspective Carolyn Ambler Walter, PhD, LCSW, is a professor at the Center for Social Work Education at Widener University, Chester, PA. Dr. Walter received her MSS and her PhD from Bryn Mawr College, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research,andherBAfromJuniataCollege.Dr.Walterhas40yearsofexperience in the field of social work, as a practitioner, teacher, and author. She has had professionalinterestsingrief,loss,andbereavementforover20years.AtWidener, Dr.WalterwaselectedasamemberofTheHonorSocietyofPhiKappaPhi,was awardedtheFacultyAwardforExcellenceinTeaching,CollegeofArtsandSciences (1992–1993),andtheServiceAwardforContributionsinShapingtheCenterfor Social Work Education (1997). In addition to teaching, Dr. Walter maintains a private clinical social work practice,specializingingriefandlossissuesandwomen’shealthissues.Dr.Walter is the author of The Loss of a Life Partner: Narratives of the Bereaved (2003). She is the co-author of Breast Cancer in the Life Course: Women’s Experiences (1991, Springer Publishing Company) and is the author of The Timing of Motherhood (1986).Dr.Walterhaspublishedmanyarticlesinprofessionaljournalsontopics such as women’s issues, grief, and social work education. Dr. Walter has served as an invited speaker at state and regional hospice conferences throughout the United States. She has also presented at international and national conferences, includingADEC(AssociationforDeathEducationandCounseling),NASW(Na- tionalAssociationofSocialWorkers),andCSWE(CouncilonSocialWorkEduca- tion). Comments can be addressed to the co-author at [email protected] or at her Web site—www.drcarolynwalter.com. JudithL.M.McCoyd,PhD,LCSW,QCSW,isAssistantProfessoratRutgersUniversity, School of Social Work. She graduated from Albright College with a Bachelor’s of Science(IndividualizedStudy)inBiology–SocialWelfare–Psychologyin1983.She graduated from Columbia University Graduate School of Social Work in 1985 (Health/MentalHealth)andwentontoworkinobstetricalandoncologicalhealth caresettings.Shehas beenanactivememberofboth theNationalAssociationof PerinatalSocialWorkersandthePerinatalSocialWorkNetworkinPhiladelphia. She was certified by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work Institute after their 3-year post-Master’s training in psychodynamic psychotherapy. In2003,sheearnedherdoctoratefromBrynMawrCollege,GraduateSchool ofSocialWorkandSocialResearch,andhastaughtresearchandpracticecourses there. Her research interests include bereavement, perinatal health care, and the ways medical technology affects decision making and grief. Her dissertation re- search was supported by an American Dissertation Grant from the American AssociationofUniversityWomenandexploredthebereavementprocessofwomen who terminated desired pregnancies after the discovery of a fetal anomaly. She haspresentedextensivelyonissuesofreproductivehealthandbereavement(aswell asqualitativeresearch),bothnationallyandinternationally.AtRutgersUniversity, School of Social Work, she developed a class to explore loss over the course of the lifespan in addition to the typical death-and-dying focus, supported by the (then) new Dean of Social Work, Richard Edwards. Dr. McCoyd also maintains a private practice. Grief and Loss Across the Lifespan A Biopsychosocial Perspective CAROLYN AMBLER WALTER, PhD, LCSW JUDITH L. M. McCOYD, PhD, LCSW, QCSW New York Copyright © 2009 Springer Publishing Company, LLC All rights reserved. Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,or transmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher or authorizationthroughpaymentoftheappropriatefeestotheCopyrightClear- ance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax978-646-8600,[email protected]. Springer Publishing Company, LLC 11 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 www.springerpub.com Acquisitions Editor: Sheri W. Sussman Production Editor: Pamela Lankas Cover design: David Levy Composition: International Graphic Services Ebook ISBN: 978-0-8261-2758-7 09 10 11 12 13 / 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Walter, Carolyn Ambler. Grief and loss across the lifespan : a biopsychosocial perspective / Carolyn Ambler Walter, Judith L.M. McCoyd. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8261-2757-0 (alk. paper) 1. Bereavement—Psychological aspects. 2. Death—Psychological aspects. 3. Loss (Psychology). 4. Grief. I. McCoyd, Judith L. M. II. Title. BF575.G7W3434 2009 155.9'3—dc22 2009001211 Printed in the United States of America by Bang Printing The author and the publisher of this Work have made every effort to use sources believed to be reliable to provide information that is accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. Theauthorandpublishershallnotbeliableforanyspecial,consequential,or exemplarydamagesresulting,inwholeorinpart,fromthereaders’useof,or reliance on, the information contained in this book. The publisher has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third- partyInternetWebsitesreferredtointhispublicationanddoesnotguarantee thatanycontentonsuchWebsitesis,orwillremain,accurateorappropriate. This text is dedicated to: The family of Carolyn Walter: Bruce Bryen, Carolyn’s husband, who hassupportedherinallofhereffortstocompletethiswork;Carolyn’s children,KimRemleyandBrianWalter;andhergrandchildren,Mat- thew and Connor, who have brought incredible joy to her during midlife. Deceased loved ones of Judie McCoyd: Miriam Mentzer, Judith L. Achuff, Mary and Walter McCoyd, Eunice and Ben Maurer, and Doug Moyer. This page intentionally left blank Contents Preface xv Acknowledgments xvii 1 Introduction 1 Text Structure 2 Introduction to Grief Theory 3 Classical Grief Theory: Task-Based Theories 4 Classical Grief Theory: Stage-Based Theories 7 The Transition to Postmodern Grief Theory 13 Meaning-Making and Grief 14 Dual Process Theory 16 Continuing Bonds and Grief 17 Disenfranchised Grief 18 Ambiguous Loss 19 Biological Effects of Grief 20 Issues of Intervention 23 A Final Word About Grief Work 25 2 Perinatal Attachment and Loss 27 Developmental Aspects of Pregnancy 28 Biological Developmental Context of Pregnancy 29 Psychological Aspects of Pregnancy 30 Social Aspects of Pregnancy 33 Summary of Development in the Prenatal Period 35 Loss as Experienced by a Fetus 36 Loss of a Fetus as Experienced by Significant Others 37 Infertility 37 Reproductive Health Conditions 38 Biological Changes Associated With Intrauterine Fetal Death 39 vii viii Contents Psychological Aspects of IUFD 41 Social Aspects of IUFD 46 Readings Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A Medical Complication of Pregnancy 49 Shari Munch Heartbreaking Choices and Losses of Potential 58 Anonymous Summary 66 3 Infancy and Toddlerhood 69 Developmental Stage: Trust Versus Mistrust and Autonomy Versus Shame 70 Biological Development 71 Psychological Development 72 Social Development 74 Losses Experienced in Infancy and Early Childhood 75 Loss of Caregiving 75 Death of a Caregiver 78 Loss of a Child’s Own Health 80 Parental Loss of an Individual at This Age 80 Death of an Infant or Toddler 80 Loss of the Idealized Child 81 Maturational and Other Losses Experienced at This Age 82 Birth and Gradual Loss of Complete Care 82 Readings Starting With Abandonment and Loss 84 Virginia McIntosh Baby James 89 Carolyn Faust Piro Nina’s Travels Through the Foster Care System 94 Tara Sinclair Summary 100 4 Elementary-School-Age Children 103 Developmental Stage: Initiative Versus Guilt and Industry Versus Inferiority 104 Biological Development 105 Psychological Development 107 Social Development 109 Contents ix Loss Experienced by an Individual During the Elementary School Years 110 Age Differences in Perceptions of Loss 110 Loss of a Pet 111 Losses Resulting From Sexual Abuse 112 Loss Caused by Parental Divorce 112 Loss and the Military 113 Intervention Issues With Elementary School Children 114 Loss of an Individual of That Age as Experienced by Others 116 Parents’ Loss of a Child 116 Readings The Challenged Child 119 Carolyn Faust Piro Loss of a Pet in Childhood: The Loss of a Companion 121 Toni Griffith Summary 126 5 Tweens and Teens 129 Development: Identity Development Versus Identity Diffusion 130 Biological Development 130 Psychosocial Development 133 Losses of Adolescents 137 Teens’ Experience of Death (Others’ or Their Own) 138 Death of a Sibling 140 Response to the Death of a Teen 142 Parents’ Loss of a Tween or Teen 142 Other Losses Experienced by Teens 143 Maturational Losses 143 Readings Childhood Chronic Health Conditions and Sibling Loss: Celebrating Strengths and Acknowledging Difficulty 147 Melissa H. Bellin Teenagers and Traumatic Grief: Tina’s Story 152 Celeste M. Johnson LossofLoveforanAdolescent:Carolyn’sPublicandPrivateLoss 162 B. Frankie Lamborne Summary 168
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