A child towards the experiences of death and dying. Analysis of the opinions of young people

Introduction: Children are generally protected from contact with death.

Aim of the study: Understanding the opinion of young people about the children experiences of death and dying.

Material and methods: The study included 606 students. We used the survey method.

Results: As a child, 34.7% of respondents accompanied the end of the life of a loved person. 46.8% accepted the presence their child in a dying person, as parents (25.7%), and respondents with the highest average age (27.1 years). 52.3% were in the presence of a deceased person. 48.7% accepted such an experience for their children. 16% parents had never talked with children about death and dying. According to 41.1% of the respondents, the readiness of child to talk about death depends on his emotional development. 75.7% reported that they will talk to their children about death and dying and 50.4% of parents are prepared to conduct such discussions with their children.

Conclusions: Older people more often reported for the presence of children in the end of life of close person. No significant differences in opinion on the presence of children in the end of life of close person, depending on the fact of having a child, sex, place of residence, and profile studies were found. Women who having children, the oldest age group, and students of medical school were more often convinced of the need conversations with children about death and dying and they declared their willingness to carry it out with their children.