Continuing Bonds With Children and Bereaved Young People: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background Finding alternative ways to reconnect with the deceased is a common feature of bereavement. However, it is currently unclear how bereaved children or young people establish and develop a “continuing bond” with deceased family members. Aim To investigate how bereaved young people continue bonds with deceased family members. Design A systematically conducted narrative review was conducted using six electronic databases: CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and BNI. Limiters were applied to peer-reviewed articles published in English. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Results Twenty articles were included in the review. Three overarching themes were generated: unintended connections, intended connections, and internalized connections. Conclusion Bereaved young people establish a sense of connection with deceased family members through various means (e.g., unprovoked or spontaneous reminders, physical mementos, internalized memories). Some connections are unintended and occur spontaneously. However, other young people will specifically seek ways to remember the deceased to provide a sense of enduring connection.