Revisiting Grief: Classical and Contemporary Theories on Childhood Parental Loss

Abstract

The death of a parent during childhood represents one of the most profound and disruptive forms of loss, with significant implications for a child’s emotional, social, and psychological development. This conceptual paper reviews and synthesizes key grief theories to deepen understanding of how children experience and adapt to parental loss. Beginning with classical frameworks Freud’s Mourning and Melancholia, Bowlby’s Attachment Theory, Kübler-Ross’s Five Stages of Grief, and Worden’s Tasks of Mourning the paper explores foundational insights into grief as a psychological and relational process. It then examines contemporary models, including the Dual Process Model, Continuing Bonds Theory, Meaning Reconstruction, Disenfranchised Grief, Bonanno’s Resilience Theory, and others, which emphasize the dynamic, meaning-making, and socially embedded nature of grieving. By comparing these perspectives, this paper highlights how children’s grief is shaped by developmental stage, attachment patterns, cultural contexts, and family dynamics. The discussion underscores the need for flexible, culturally sensitive, and family-centered interventions that validate diverse grief experiences and support healthy adaptation. This synthesis contributes to family social work interventions and bereavement scholarship by advocating for an integrated, compassionate approach to understanding and responding to childhood parental loss.