The process of co-design with children of supporting kids in loss: An unguided internet cognitive behavior therapy intervention for grief
Grief is common in children. Internet interventions may increase access to help for grieving children. The co-design of a new internet intervention for grief with 11 children (mean age = 10.81 years; 64% girls, 36% boys) is described. Children emphasized the importance of colorful images and esthetics on the website, improved accessibility via audio recordings of each webpage, engaging interactive features, drawing as an alternative to written responses, and a reduction in the amount of text. We also outline plans for a randomized controlled trial, consisting of eight modules delivered over four weeks. Children aged six to 12 years, will be randomized to intervention or waitlist control. Intervention outcomes include the primary outcome of anxiety, and secondary outcomes of depression, well-being, posttraumatic stress and prolonged grief. Outcomes will be assessed at pre and post treatment and one month follow-up. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed via attrition and qualitative interviews.
Authors
- Sarah Jane Egan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3715-4009)
- PAUL A. BOELEN
- Elizabeth Bills (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3018-5192)
- Danyelle Greene (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9568-449X)
- Jennifer Wild (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5463-1711)
- Tamara Zammit (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8633-3989)
- Michael Duffy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2194-2411)
- Amy O’Brien (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8615-9682)
- Lauren J. Breen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0463-0363)
- BRONWYN J. MYERS (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0235-6716)
- David Trickey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7836-5147)
- Shravan Raghav (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8610-230X)
- Sian Belinda Pauley-Gadd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8865-1567)
- Hayden Wilson
- Kirsten V. Smith
- Christopher Hall
Institutions
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- Queen's University Belfast (GB)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- University of Phoenix (US)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Curtin University (AU)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group (NL)
- Enable Ireland (IE)
- WA Country Health Service (AU)
- Relief International (US)
- Center for Independent Living (US)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Death Studies
- Published
- 2026-03-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2638324
- Primary Topic
- Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00