The role of ritual in children's bereavement

Three hundred and eighteen parent-bereaved children aged 5-17 recruited fro m the community and their surviving parents were interviewed at 1, 6, 13, a nd 25 months post-parental death about their participation in funeral relat ed rituals and subsequent adjustment following the death. Nearly all the ch ildren attended their parent's visitation, funeral, and burial. Children fr om families who did not have such rituals fare less well over time. Childre n who reported internalizing or externalizing behavior at rituals were more likely to experience some increased problems in the first two years post-d eath. Children who were withdrawn or quiet during the rituals had fewer sub sequent problems than children who acted out during these rituals. Visitati on attendance was associated with better outcome one and two years later. T he symbolism of rituals (e.g., playing a favorite song) often brings comfor t to child survivors. Cremation does not appear to have any negative effect on children's outcome.