GRANDPARENTS REACTIONS TO THE DEATH OF A GRANDCHILD - AN EXPLORATORY FACTOR-ANALYTIC STUDY

One hundred and fifty-two grandparents who had experienced the death o f a grandchild in the preceding three years or so served as subjects f or two separate but related studies investigating the multidimensional nature of the grief reactions of grandparents. In Study 1, subjects r esponded to an open-ended questionnaire which asked for brief descript ions of their grief reactions immediately following the death of the g randchild, and perceived changes in their affective and behavioral res ponses with the passage of time. A principal component factor analysis procedure was used to identify the major dimensions in the grief reac tions of grandparents. Of the six factors that emerged, Factor 1 (Emot ional Rupturing) and Factor 2 (Survivor Guilt) accounted for 21.0 perc ent and 18.6 percent, respectively, of the total variance. In Study 2, a six-month longitudinal follow-up of seventeen grandparents was cond ucted by means of in-depth interviews. Subjects provided detailed pers onal accounts of their coping and recovery processes. Interview data w ere analyzed using a qualitative approach. The results of Study 2 corr oborated and supported the factor analysis results obtained in Study 1 . Both studies highlight the continuing need for gerontologists to inv estigate the complexity of grandparents' grief reactions. The studies draw attention to the mental health implications for older adults who have experienced loss and bereavement.