Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

INFORMING CHILDREN ABOUT A PARENT'S TERMINAL ILLNESS

Corresponding Author

Eliyahu Rosenheim

Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel

Requests for reprints to: Eliyahu Rosenheim, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52100, Israel.Search for more papers by this author

Rivka Reicher,

Rivka Reicher

“Geha” Mental Health Center, Petah–Tikva, Israel

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Eliyahu Rosenheim,

Corresponding Author

Eliyahu Rosenheim

Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel

Requests for reprints to: Eliyahu Rosenheim, Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52100, Israel.Search for more papers by this author

Rivka Reicher,

Rivka Reicher

“Geha” Mental Health Center, Petah–Tikva, Israel

Search for more papers by this author

First published: November 1985

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1985.tb00613.x

Citations: 63

We are grateful to the Israeli Cancer Association for their research grant; and to Dr. Peri Kedem for her statistical help.

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Abstract

It has been suggested that supplying children with explicit information about the terminal illness of a parent is likely to enhance their coping with anxiety. To examine this claim, the anxiety level of 18 children who were informed by their parents was compared with that of 26 children who were not thus informed. The anxiety of the informed group was significantly lower. The results also show meaningful differences between developmental levels among the non-informed only. Possible explanations and implications of the results are discussed.

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Volume26, Issue6

November 1985

Pages 995-998

INFORMING CHILDREN ABOUT A PARENT'S TERMINAL ILLNESS

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INFORMING CHILDREN ABOUT A PARENT'S TERMINAL ILLNESS

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