Browsing by Author "Goldstein, Richard D."

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    Psychosocial implications of stillbirth for the mother and her family : a crisis-support approach
    (Stellenbosch University, 2014) Human, Melanie; Groenewald, Coen; Odendaal, Hein J.; Green, Sulina; Goldstein, Richard D.; Kinney, Hannah C.
    In this article mothers’ emotions after experiencing a stillbirth are discussed. A study combining quantitative and qualitative research provided the foundation for a better understanding of the psychosocial implications of stillbirth for a mother and her family. The crisis-intervention approach was used to assist a control group of 25 mothers and was also evaluated during the study to establish the effectiveness thereof. Findings indicated that those mothers receiving the intervention used different coping mechanisms to deal with the severity of their loss. Narratives further show that relationship problems occurred following the loss. Receiving crisis intervention from a social worker during this period of grief, helped to facilitate the grieving process.
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    Transitional objects of grief
    (Comprensive Psychiatry, 2020-01) Goldstein, Richard D.; Petty, Carter R.; Morris, Sue E.; Human, Melanie; Odendaal, Hein; Elliott, Amy J.; Tobacco, Deborah; Angal, Jyoti; Brink, Lucy; Prigerson, Holly G.
    Background: Transitional objects provide security and symbolic connection with valued others when separated from them. Bereaved parents often keep, cherish and visit saved objects of their deceased child. This research examined the hypothesis that these objects behave as transitional objects of grief in bereaved mothers during three years following their infants' deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Methods: Questionnaires were administered asking about the presence of kept objects and momentos from their deceased infant, and the frequency, location and emotions experienced during visits to them. Diagnostic criteria for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) were assessed using the Parental Bereavement Questionnaire. Results: 98.6% of the mothers reported having transitional objects of grief, and most visited them more frequently than once per week regardless of PGD status. Mothers with PGD reported significantly more distress when visiting the objects, especially those visiting them privately. Mothers with PGD who felt comforted by the objects had lower risk for finding life meaningless or finding discussion about the infant intolerable. Conclusions: Transitional objects of grief are common and associated with key aspects of grief. There is a need to understand the potential therapeutic uses of transitional objects in promoting bereavement adjustment.