Intersections of Grief and Trauma: Family Members' Reactions to Homicide

Research that identifies intersections in the fields of death and trauma has burgeoned into a separate area of study (e.g., Figley, Bride, & Mazza, 1997). This chapter outlines initial results from a Western Canadian study that focused on stress and grief reactions of family survivors of homicide victims. A brief theoretical overview discusses grief as a stress factor and emphasizes the role of social support, centrality of the relationship, and gender differences in surviving family members who have been bereaved by homicide.