Abstract
Objective:
This study aims to examine the behavioral characteristics of children and adolescents who were bereaved by parental or sibling deaths.
Method:
Children and adolescents (4 boys and 4 girls) with a history of a first degree relative loss, who were admitted to the Marmara University Child Psychiatry Clinic in the last 12 months, were assessed. The behavioral problems were evaluated by clinical examination and the “Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)”.
Results:
The mean age of the sample was 11 ± 2.13 years. The time interval between the loss and the assessment was 15 months in avarage. The mean T scores were 53.88 ± 7.51 for CBCL Internalizing Scale, 51.00 ± 8.35 for Externalizing Scale and 53.38 ± 9.72 for Total Problem Score. One case was found to manifest clinically significant behavioral problem while four cases were in the borderline range for clinically significant distress. In an overall view, the sample did not show any significant behavioral problems.
Discussion:
Although the mean problem score of the overall group was not clinically significant, there is evidence that bereaved children and adolescents may manifest different behavioral problems.
Keywords: Bereavement, behavioral problems, fist degree relative loss
