Proposes task-based approach for understanding coping with dying. Outlines four primary areas of coping with dying (physical, psychological, social, spiritual) which define four primary areas of task work in coping with dying. Offers argument as to why task-based approach should be adopted. Notes four advantages that apply to task-based approach…

Briefly explores the needs served by pet cemeteries, the difficulties that confront many of these facilities, and the larger implications for memorialization and the sense of loss. Includes photographic tour of Pet Rest Memorial Mortuary and Cemetery in Tempe, Arizona. (Author/NB)

Challenges long-standing belief in importance of grief work for adjustment to bereavement. Examines claims made in theoretical formulations and principles of grief counseling and therapy concerning necessity of working through loss. Reviews empirical evidence and describes cross-cultural findings to document alternative patterns of coping with…

Explores the activity of writing as a coping mechanism during grief, based on questionnaire responses from 16 bereaved persons. Discusses forms the writing has taken, whether the writing was spontaneous or structured, difficulties experienced, disclosure, reactions of others, perceived helpfulness, and time when writing was most helpful. (JAC)

Tests George Homans' contention that religion arouses a sense of anxiety concerning death and then alleviates the anxiety it creates. Evidence seems to indicate that religiosity may serve the dual function of afflicting the comforted and comforting the afflicted. (Author)

Explores approach to dealing with human death. Describes floating perspective, based on insights from Choron and Jaspers, as suggesting it is possible to deal with human death by refraining from taking ultimate position on the problem. Position encourages openness to death. Examines role of anxiety and describes possible meaningful outcomes of…

Notes that approximately 250 to 1,000 deaths in United States annually are result of autoerotic asphyxiation, hangings that were intended to enhance sexual excitement. Reviews scattered literature on autoerotic asphyxiation and includes observations by two psychiatrists and medical examiner. Notes that much remains to be learned about this…

Two main goals in the care of the terminally ill are to optimize the quality of their remaining life and to alleviate the distress of their survivors. Pain control research has contributed significantly to meeting those goals, but continued progress is needed in both basic studies and expanded applications of new techniques. (Author/NB)

A representative sample of the adult population of the United States was asked: "If you had a fatal illness would you want to be told about it, or not?" Of the people interviewed, 9 out of 10 said they would like to be told. Implications for medical treatment are discussed. (Author)

Explores custom of post-mortem photography. Describes practice of post-mortem photography in 19th century America and traces changes in post-mortem photography in the 20th century. Discusses value of photographs in mourning process and suggests more thorough examination of the place of death-related photographs in grief management. (Author/NB)

Case study research in shelter for homeless men revealed small, but notable, minority suffering from unresolved grief resulting from death of spouse, child, parent, or other immediate family member, or to painful divorce. Failure to cope with grief appeared to have robbed them of will to maintain their social standing. (Author/NB)

Introduction to special journal issue examines links among death, distress, and solidarity (social support). Notes that solidarity constitutes most important coping mechanism when facing death and intense distress associated with death. Briefly summarizes articles in issue, noting decision to view solidarity in larger perspective than one adopted…

Examined obituary and in-memoriam announcements in Nigerian newspapers to determine dimension of content used to manage grief. Abstracted 10 dimensions of content that represented specific cultural behavior of people who exhibit a significant degree of similarity in management of grief. Findings suggest that openness to death is appropriate…

Describes a sampling strategy which involves linked pairs of persons used to obtain bereaved respondents for a study examining loss and coping responses following a recent natural disaster. The sampling procedure appeared not to produce an obvious bias and was very beneficial in meeting the research objectives. (Author/NRB)

Compared stress and coping levels of 108 older adults who recently lost their spouses with expectations of stress and coping reported by 85 matched nonbereaved controls. Although bereaved reported moderately high stress levels over two years, their stress scores were lower and coping scores higher than what nonbereaved anticipated their levels…