The effect of the death of an immediate (original) (raw)

This research is an examination of how children theologically perceive God following the death of an immediate family member, specifically that of a parent or sibling. Research shows that 20 percent of children will experience a parental death by the time they finish high school. 1 Parental death has a traumatic effect on a child's development. In fact, 20 percent of children who experience a parental death are "likely to develop a psychiatric disorder." 2 While parental death is one of the hardest losses to cope with, the loss of sibling also has a profound impact on children. 3 According to a study conducted by Worden, Davies, and McCown, 25 percent of the children who experience a sibling death will exhibit "at risk" behavior. 4 Another study by McCown and Davies revealed that children who lose a brother or sister exhibit "significantly more behavior problems than does the normal population." 5