Identity Loss, Family, and Social Change

Identity reconstruction as shiduers: Narratives from Chinese older adults who lost their only child

“…Family structure and dynamics are a central and powerful source of unique, particularistic, and highly valued personal identities. However, when the family becomes smaller, the potential for unsupported and irreplaceable personal identity loss increases (Weigert & Hastings, ). A woman, whose screen name is Baobei, described her deceased son as the “ center of her whole world .” “ He was our sky.…”

Including others in the self

“…Indeed, the experience of relationship dissolution has been described as painful and stressful because of threats to personal identity (Weigart & Hastings, 1977). For example, a content analysis of interviews found that when divorced women described themselves less than a year after relationship dissolution, 60% used descriptors such as ''nonperson'', ''not a part of life'', or ''depersonalised'' (Kohen, 1981).…”

Identity Relevance and Disruption as Predictors of Psychological Distress for Widowed and Divorced Women

“…A key factor that affects the loss and each person's identity transition is the significance of the former spouse in defining the relevance of the spousal identity (Lofland, 1985;Rosenblatt, 1988;Weigart & Hastings, 1977). The relevance of the spousal identity and the experience of stress form the foundation for the stress and identity theory tested in this article as postulated by Thoits (1991) and Burke (1991).…”