Emerging adults at risk of complicated grief reactions

A feasibility study

Abstract

Emerging adulthood is often described as the age of opportunities, but for young adults, who have lost a parent, these years can be extremely challenging. The present study was designed to investigate and assess the feasibility of a manualized bereavement treatment involving eight young adults at risk of complicated grief reactions. Therapy was based on group therapy, including letter writing as a method of intervention. The study used a pre and post treatment design and the results indicate positive changes in gief symptoms and symptoms of internalization after group therapy. The results must be interpreted with caution due to the low number of participants, however the results indicate that this particular type of therapy can be considered relevant for the developmental periode of emerging adulthood. Limitations of the study, implications for intervention for the age group and future research and practice is discussed.