In What Ways Do Bereaved Parents After Terror Go on With Their Lives, and What Seems to Inhibit or Promote Adaptation During Their Grieving Process? A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The aim of this article was to identify the ways in which bereaved parents go on with their lives following terror killings and to discuss what appears to inhibit or promote adaptation during their grieving process. The results of the study are aimed at presenting advice to professional helpers. From 22 in-depth interviews with parents bereaved by the 2011 terror attack in Norway, four main themes concerning coping were identified: (a) decisions, mindsets, and cognitions; (b) proactive and confronting activities; (c) avoidant and protective activities; (d) coping through support and assistance. A variety of coping strategies were employed: avoidance, protection and distraction, adaptive and maladaptive rumination, thought control, and confrontation. Most parents used several strategies to varying degrees and interchangeably over time, likely more or less adaptive and functional. The importance of helping the bereaved flexibly regulate the oscillation between loss-oriented and restoration-orientated life-tasks is emphasized for helping them cope effectively.

Different Trajectories of Prolonged Grief in Bereaved Family Members After Terror

“…Horowitz stated that intrusions are common after sudden traumatic events, and that avoidance is a strategy that is used to ward off the painful emotions related to these intrusions (46). While avoidance can be adaptive in the early stages of a loss, if it is used as the main coping strategy to regulate grief it may hinder the bereaved from confronting the reality of their loved one's death or processing the loss (47). Intrusive thoughts or re-enactment fantasies of how their loved one was killed can interfere with positive reminiscing of the deceased (48).…”

Coping After Involuntary Pregnancy Loss: Perspectives of Spanish European Women

“…Avoidance behaviors may be because these women are not prepared to talk about their loss. According to the research literature (Dyregrov, Dyregrov, & Kristensen, 2016; Nazaré, Fonseca, & Canavarro, 2013), avoidant coping is associated either with adaptive or maladaptive responses that may be helpful following a loss and trauma. In our results, the mean time between loss and the interview was a month, and this could suggest an adaptive response in the grieving process because the presence of avoidance behaviors by parents is in the early stages of the grieving process.…”

A Relational Perspective on Social Support Between Bereaved and Their Networks After Terror: A Qualitative Study

“…In line with the Dual Process Model of coping with bereavement ( Stroebe & Schut, 2010 ), that is, the need to “dose” grieving (take breaks from dealing with the stressors surrounding either loss or restoration), this is an important aspect of adaptive coping. However, coping flexibility is easier for parents that have the ability to optimize family and network support through open and clear communication and who have good relationships with their family while simultaneously receiving good support from their places of work, as opposed to parents who lack these resources ( Dyregrov, Dyregrov, & Kristensen, 2016 ). A pertinent question to ask is, what stimulates or prevents flexible coping in relationships between the bereaved and their social networks?…”