Facing death : familial responses to illness and death / edited by Christina L. Scott (Whittier College, USA), Heidi M. Williams (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA), and Siri Wilder (The University of Texas at Dallas, USA).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Section 1. Coping with serious illness and threat of death -- Chapter 1. Intimate relationships as factors in associations between inflammation and happiness in older adults: A covariate analysis of limited longitudinal data / Alexandra C. H. Nowakowski, Katelyn Y. Graves, and J. E. Sumerau -- Chapter 2. Facing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis under lockdown: The experiences of minors / Ines Testoni, Lorenza Palazzo, Teresa Tosatto, Livia Sani, Gabriella Rossi, and Jenny Ferizoviku -- Chapter 3. Navigating discussions of death with young children: Variable strategies of protection / Rebecca Gregory, Chang Su-Russell, Luke T. Russell, and Carley Barrett Section 2. Decisions Surrounding Serious Illness and End of Life -- Chapter 4. Familial responses to death in veterans affairs medical centers: Losing control and holding on / Patricia Drentea, Beverly Rosa Williams, Karen Hoefer, F. Amos Bailey, and Kathryn L. Burgio -- Chapter 5. Choosing abortion for a serious fetal health issue: From medical information to values / Katrina Kimport Section 3. Facing Death and Bereavement -- Chapter 6. Social support in bereavement: The experiences of support following spousal loss in families with dependent children / Helle Holmgren -- Chapter 7. Grieving together: Dyadic trajectories and reciprocal relations in parental grief after child loss / Asuman Buyukcan-Tetik, Sara Albuquerque, Margaret S. Stroebe, Henk A. W. Schut, and Maarten C. Eisma -- Chapter 8. Suicide bereavement and social relationships: A new application of durkheim / Kathryn McGrath.

While rituals surrounding death may vary by geography, culture, and time, experiencing the loss of a loved one is a universal experience. Death has become a focal point during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many to unexpectedly confront the profound and enduring reality of loss. Understanding death from a multidisciplinary approach, Facing Death compiles contributions from across fields, methodologies, locations, cultures, and circumstances. Facing Death explores beyond loss solely on an individual level, considering instead helpful or harmful emotional reactions from others. Delving into how older adults who experience loss may find themselves without a support system, while those at a young age might find that their peers do not understand or know how to support them in their bereavement, the authors also consider how causes of death can also affect grieving loved ones on a personal and societal level. For example, how might death by suicide complicate the grieving process as family and friends not only have to contend with the loss itself, but also the associated stigmas and judgements surrounding suicide? How might individuals experience fear and anxiety about death during a prolonged illness? Exploring responses to familial illness and death, this edited collection is a detailed investigation of the subject for any scholar interested in discussions and decisions surrounding end of life care and the grief trajectory after loss.