A Longitudinal Perspective on Bereaved Parent's Changes in Life Experience after the 2014 Sewol Ferry Sinking

Abstract

This study compared reports of parental life experiences from bereaved parents at two and five years after the death of their adolescent children due to the sinking of the Sewol Ferry in South Korea. Twelve bereaved parents (eight mothers and four fathers from eight families) were interviewed regarding the changes and stabilities they experienced over time at two time points of data collection. Twenty-eight in-depth interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Outcomes of parental bereavement and changes in life over time may be classified into four main categories: (a) personal changes, (b) changes in perspectives, (c) changes in family relationship, and (d) changes in social relationship and work attitude. This study includes a detailed examination of the phenomenon among the bereaved parents. Discussions and implications are provided based on the results.

Changes Over Time in Parental Self-identity After the Loss of an Adolescent Child

“…All bereaved parents reported overall deterioration in their health that came with the loss of their child. As reported elsewhere (Kim et al, 2020), parents reported varied physical discomfort and symptoms. The deterioration in health came from their year-long protest and activities for the Sewol Ferry, and many reported that after all this time, they sensed how they were sick back then.…”

“…This study involved secondary analysis of data collected for a bereavement study that followed 12 parents who lost an adolescent child to the 2014 Sewol Ferry sinking for five years. Full details of the design of the study and sample characteristics including further details of the Sewol Ferry sinking are provided elsewhere (Kim et al, 2020). We used a qualitative methodology to examine the changes in parental self-identity over time after the loss of their child suddenly due to an unnatural cause.…”

“…It took almost three days for the ferry to completely sink, and victims' families and citizens witnessed its gradual sinking as it was broadcasted live on TV nationwide. More detailed descriptions of the Sewol Ferry sinking are provided elsewhere (Kim et al, 2020).…”