An Israeli researcher who lost a sibling in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks says her grief spurred her to study the unique aspects of grief from this type of loss Her research uncovered new information on how gender, birth order and other factors influence the grieving process Too often, a sibling's grief may be discounted compared to grief felt by a parent or child, but it can be deep and lasting THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A young Israeli researcher who lost a sibling in the Oct.
7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians said the tragedy has spurred her to study the unique aspects of grief at the sudden loss of a brother or sister. The research by Master of Arts student Masada Buchris, of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, hasn't yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal and will become part of her thesis. But it's already showing that grief over lost siblings differs from grief felt by the loss of a parent, partner or child.
"This research is deeply personal for me," Buchris said in a university news release. "Losing my sibling on October 7th was a life-altering event, and it became clear that many bereaved siblings face 'unrecognized grief.' This study is the first step towards understanding the profound consequences of such a loss and ensuring that siblings receive the support they need.
" Buchris' work focused on 444 people who lost a sibling in the Oct. 7 attacks, which killed over 1,200 people, according to the . The bereaved siblings averaged about 32 years.