The meaning of losing a child in older adults: a qualitative study

BMC Geriatrics

Marzieh Araban¹  Mahboubeh Rezaei²  Mohsen Adib-Hajbaghery²  Azade Safa² 

[1]Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

[2]Trauma Nursing Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, P.O.Box: 8715981151, 5th of Qotb –e Ravandi Blvd, Kashan, Iran

关键词: Meaning;    Losing a child;    Older adults;    Content analysis;    Qualitative study;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-021-02609-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAfter losing their child, elderly parents look for a meaning in this phenomenon. This meaning comes out from their experiences, and their responses to and actions in life are shaped based on this meaning. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of “understanding the meaning of losing a child in older adults.”MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis method. Using semi-structured face-to-face interviews, data were collected from 15 older adults who had experienced of losing their adult child. Data analysis was performed according to the steps proposed by Graneheim and Lundman, 2004. To prove the trustworthiness of the data, credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability were used.ResultsThe age range of participants was between 61 and 83 years and 73.3% of them were female. The two main categories of “tasting the bitter flavor of life” and “searching for a positive meaning in losing a child” together with the theme of “finding hope in the heart of darkness” were extracted from the participants’ experiences.ConclusionsDespite the grief of losing a child, which had cast a dark shadow over the parents’ lives, the child’s liberation from worldly sufferings, his/her presence in a better world, and being hopeful about the grace of God had caused the elderly parents to find hope in the heart of darkness. After identifying the parents with a deceased child, they should be helped through psychological counseling and care of the healthcare team so that they can adapt to this situation by finding a positive meaning in losing their child.

【 授权许可】

CC BY