This paper examines the relation of marital separation and divorce to suicide. Those persons seriously discussing separation, not actually separated, tended to be less frequently suicidal than long-term separated/divorced. The authors believe that the findings in regard to vacillation and interspouse aggression are especially interesting and merit…

Explores some of the methodological issues which arose during an investigation into experiences of bereaved parents. Notes the values of ethnographic approaches in researching intimate and painful experiences and argues that parents' stories about their children's lives are central to processes of identity reconstruction during grief. (RJM)

Notes when long-standing marriage suddenly becomes conflictual, one precipitant can be the recent death of parent on one of partners. Claims main goal of therapy is to facilitate bereaved partner's mourning and choosing an effective therapeutic method depends on couple's capacity for mutual empathy and support and their need for insight.…

Found an excess mortality, especially among women, among people who are remarried and cohabiting. A narrower than expected gender mortality difference existed when work status and number of children were taken into consideration. Unemployed women, as well as unskilled male workers, were in particularly vulnerable situations at divorce. (RJM)

Examined differences within 34 pairs of parents bereaved by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 3-40 months after their loss. Findings revealed that bereaved parents sought support from within family most frequently and from outside resources the least. Bereaved mothers used these coping patterns significantly more often than did fathers. Found…

Reviews research on the components and stages of stress in the lives of children, identifying three stages and six categories of stress factors: personal child variables, ecological stressors, socioeconomic status, catastrophes and terrors, family events, and spouse problems. (KS)