A grounded theory study on the dynamics of parental grief during the children's end of life.
Acta Paediatr
; 112(5): 1101-1108, 2023 05.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36806310
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Parents are increasingly confronted with loss during their child's end of life. Healthcare professionals struggle with parental responses to loss. This study aimed to understand parental coping with grief during their child's end of life.METHODS:
A grounded theory study was performed, using semi-structured interviews with parents during the child's end of life and recently bereaved parents. Data were collected in four children's university hospitals and paediatric homecare services between October 2020 and December 2021. A multidisciplinary team conducted the analysis.RESULTS:
In total, 38 parents of 22 children participated. Parents strived to sustain family life, to be a good parent and to ensure a full life for their child. Meanwhile parents' grief increased because of their hypervigilance towards signs of loss. Parents' coping with grief is characterised by an interplay of downregulating grief and connecting with grief, aimed at creating emotional space to be present and connect with their child. Parents connected with grief when it was forced upon them or when they momentarily allowed themselves to.CONCLUSION:
The parents' ability to engage with grief becomes strained during the end of life. Healthcare professionals should support parents in their search for a balance that facilitates creating emotional space.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Luto
/
Pesar
Tipo de estudo:
Qualitative_research
Limite:
Child
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Acta Paediatr
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Holanda