Caregivers’ Role in Youth Functioning Among Bereaved Caregiver-Child Dyads

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Carter, T. (2022). Caregivers’ Role in Youth Functioning Among Bereaved Caregiver-Child Dyads. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This study explored indicators of caregiver functioning, the caregiver-child relationship, and child functioning among bereaved youth (aged 6 to 13 years) and their caregivers attending peer support programming at two grief centers (n = 56 caregiver-child dyads). Limited research to date has examined bereaved caregiver-child dyads, peer support programming for grief, or posttraumatic growth (PTG) among this population. The present analyses focused on caregiver psychological distress, strain, availability, coping advice, and PTG, as well as youth psychological functioning, coping resources, and PTG, which were assessed via questionnaires administered to children and their caregivers at the grief centers. Findings suggest that child-reported caregiver distress was associated with poorer youth psychological functioning, and several dimensions of caregiver coping advice (i.e., active coping, planning, positive reframing, emotional support, and religious coping) related to higher youth PTG. There were no other significant associations between the caregiver- and child-related variables. The lack of significant findings might be attributable to study limitations (e.g., small sample size, homogenous population, measurement issues). Overall, the study highlights that caregivers can positively and negatively influence youth adaptation to loss via their own functioning (as reported by children) and their interactions with children. Attending to these factors in the context of peer support programming may promote healthy adaptation and the development of PTG. Study implications and needed future directions are discussed.

Details
Author

Carter, Taylor

Title

Caregivers’ Role in Youth Functioning Among Bereaved Caregiver-Child Dyads

Physical Description

1 online resource (98 pages) : PDF

Date

2022

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This study explored indicators of caregiver functioning, the caregiver-child relationship, and child functioning among bereaved youth (aged 6 to 13 years) and their caregivers attending peer support programming at two grief centers (n = 56 caregiver-child dyads). Limited research to date has examined bereaved caregiver-child dyads, peer support programming for grief, or posttraumatic growth (PTG) among this population. The present analyses focused on caregiver psychological distress, strain, availability, coping advice, and PTG, as well as youth psychological functioning, coping resources, and PTG, which were assessed via questionnaires administered to children and their caregivers at the grief centers. Findings suggest that child-reported caregiver distress was associated with poorer youth psychological functioning, and several dimensions of caregiver coping advice (i.e., active coping, planning, positive reframing, emotional support, and religious coping) related to higher youth PTG. There were no other significant associations between the caregiver- and child-related variables. The lack of significant findings might be attributable to study limitations (e.g., small sample size, homogenous population, measurement issues). Overall, the study highlights that caregivers can positively and negatively influence youth adaptation to loss via their own functioning (as reported by children) and their interactions with children. Attending to these factors in the context of peer support programming may promote healthy adaptation and the development of PTG. Study implications and needed future directions are discussed.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Psychology
Counseling psychology
Mental health

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Bereavement
Caregiver-Child Dyads
Grief
Peer Support
Ptg

Subject Area

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Kilmer, Ryan

Committee Members

Armstrong, Laura
Richardson, Sonyia

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2022.

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Rights Holder Information

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Identifier

Carter_uncc_0694N_13199

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:3115