Parental Bereavement: The Crisis of Meaning

Abstract

This descriptive study used qualitative methods to look at two aspects of the search for meaning in parental bereavement--the search for cognitive mastery and the search for renewed purpose. One hundred and seventy-six bereaved parents answered open-ended questions about the experience of their child's death and the meaning of their life since the death. For most parents, the child's death precipitated a severe crisis of meaning and initiated a search for meaning that involved both cognitive mastery and renewed purpose. Those parents who were able to find meaning in the death cited connections with people, the memory of the child, and positive gains resulting from the trauma. The great majority of parents believed that their lives since the death of the child had meaning. Meaning came from connections with people, activities, beliefs and values, personal growth, and connections with the lost child. Implications for grief counseling are discussed.

The impact of losing a child on the clinical presentation of complicated grief

“…Indeed, it is common for parents to experience what appear to be many of the core symptoms of complicated grief following the death of the child. For example, parents often struggle to accept the fact of the death (Wheeler, 2001) and those that lose their children to SIDS report being shocked and stunned at the loss (Cornwell et al, 1977). Anger and overwhelming sadness are not uncommon emotions, especially for parents who have lost children to accidents, suicides, or homicides (Dyregrov, 1990, Murphy et al, 1999).…”

Couple’s Relationship After the Death of a Child: A Systematic Review

“…The loss of a child is perhaps the worst event a parent could ever endure (Wheeler, 2001). Bereaved parents often experience a grief response that is pervasive, intense and enduring, as the death of a child can cause changes in several domains of the parents' life, including emotional, physical, financial, spiritual and social relationships (Rando, 2000).…”

On the Child's Own Initiative: Parents Communicate with Their Dying Child About Death

“…Having a child with a severe and potentially life-threatening illness forces families to recognize that life is not endless, and that even children and young adults might die. Being told that one's child is likely to die is undoubtedly among the worst fears of any parent, and losing one's child has been described as one of the most stressful life-events possible (James & Johnson, 1997;Wheeler, 2001). …”