Date of Award

5-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

College/School

College of Education and Human Services

Department/Program

Family and Child Studies

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Chih-Yuan Steven Lee

Committee Member

Sara Goldstein

Committee Member

Olena Nesteruk

Abstract

Guided by social cognitive behavioral theory, this study aimed to explore the parental perceptions of including children in family members’ end of life care and at the funeral services by examining the potential predicting factors such as anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, self-efficacy, self-esteem, attitude toward death, children’s age, social support, and personal relationships. A total of 120 (58 non-Japanese and 62 Japanese) parents participated in the study by completing either hard copy or online surveys. Data were analyzed by performing t-tests, correlations, and multiple regression. Results indicated that the majority of participants would definitely include their children in the partners’ and other children’s (if available) end of life care and at their funeral services, regardless of the cultural backgrounds, that social support and parent-child relationships were strongly associated with the parental decision making, and that there were cultural differences in such associations. The findings suggest that strengthening the social support, particularly from family and friends, and enhancing the parent-child relationships might encourage parents to include children in a family member’s end of life care and at the funeral service.

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