Survey Description of Stress of Parents Bereaved from a Child Killed in a Traffic Accident. A Retrospective Study of a Victim Support Group

Abstract

Objectives: To assess parents' views of the care and support received at the time of the child's accident. To examine the presence of traumatic grief and general psychiatric distress among parents. Methods: Data were obtained from a self-help group of parents who lost a child in a traffic accident. Eighty-five parents responded to a survey including items about circumstances of the death, satisfaction with death handling and standardized questionnaires. Results: Parents reported insufficient satisfaction with services immediately following the death of their child. Even after considerable time they continued to show strong symptoms of traumatic grief and high levels of general psychiatric distress. Conclusion: Confrontation with the death of a child killed in a vehicular crash increases the risk of prolonged psychiatric distress in bereaved parents. A closer immediate follow-up is needed, and long-term support should be provided when needed.