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Socialisation of Children to Cope With Death, Bereavement and Grief - A Berger and Luckman Inspired Analysis of Children’s Picture Books in a Chinese Context

Fu, Cong LU ; Xu, Hongxuan LU ; Stjernswärd, Sigrid LU orcid and Glasdam, Stinne LU orcid (2025) In OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
Abstract
Children’s understanding of death, bereavement and grief develop through socialisation where picture books also may play a role. The study explores how children’s picture books published in China (2010–2024), communicated themes of death, bereavement and grief. A systematic search identified 321 relevant books, of which 47 met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using both descriptive and a Berger and Luckmann-inspired qualitative thematic approach. Three themes were constructed: ‘Nature as a framework for understanding death, bereavement and grief ‘, ‘Normalisation strategies of death, bereavement and grief’, and ‘Reinventing new relationships to the deceased’. Nature was depicted as a retreat and a medium for socialising children... (More)
Children’s understanding of death, bereavement and grief develop through socialisation where picture books also may play a role. The study explores how children’s picture books published in China (2010–2024), communicated themes of death, bereavement and grief. A systematic search identified 321 relevant books, of which 47 met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using both descriptive and a Berger and Luckmann-inspired qualitative thematic approach. Three themes were constructed: ‘Nature as a framework for understanding death, bereavement and grief ‘, ‘Normalisation strategies of death, bereavement and grief’, and ‘Reinventing new relationships to the deceased’. Nature was depicted as a retreat and a medium for socialising children about death, bereavement, and grief. Grieving and bereavement were portrayed as complex processes, with external support and communal rituals emphasised as essential strategies, shaped by societal norms and rituals. Relationships with the deceased were often reinvented to continue bonds. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Bereavement, Berger & Luckmann, China, Children's picture books, Grief, death, socialisation
in
OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:39912324
  • scopus:85217579739
ISSN
1541-3764
DOI
10.1177/00302228251313671
project
Children's everyday lives when a parent is seriously ill with the prospect of imminent death - perspectives of parents and children
The picturing of health, healthcare and healthcare professions in children’s fiction books
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac878bf8-d0b7-4934-be49-3e1f7e873d7f
date added to LUP
2025-02-06 13:35:29
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:25:27
@article{ac878bf8-d0b7-4934-be49-3e1f7e873d7f,
  abstract     = {{Children’s understanding of death, bereavement and grief develop through socialisation where picture books also may play a role. The study explores how children’s picture books published in China (2010–2024), communicated themes of death, bereavement and grief. A systematic search identified 321 relevant books, of which 47 met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using both descriptive and a Berger and Luckmann-inspired qualitative thematic approach. Three themes were constructed: ‘Nature as a framework for understanding death, bereavement and grief ‘, ‘Normalisation strategies of death, bereavement and grief’, and ‘Reinventing new relationships to the deceased’. Nature was depicted as a retreat and a medium for socialising children about death, bereavement, and grief. Grieving and bereavement were portrayed as complex processes, with external support and communal rituals emphasised as essential strategies, shaped by societal norms and rituals. Relationships with the deceased were often reinvented to continue bonds.}},
  author       = {{Fu, Cong and Xu, Hongxuan and Stjernswärd, Sigrid and Glasdam, Stinne}},
  issn         = {{1541-3764}},
  keywords     = {{Bereavement; Berger & Luckmann; China; Children's picture books; Grief; death; socialisation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying}},
  title        = {{Socialisation of Children to Cope With Death, Bereavement and Grief - A Berger and Luckman Inspired Analysis of Children’s Picture Books in a Chinese Context}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00302228251313671}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/00302228251313671}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}