REFLECTIONS OF YOUNG ADULTS ON THE LOSS OF A PARENT IN ADOLESCENCE

Abstract

This study explores the reflections of young adults on the experience of parental loss in adolescence. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling and personal connections from Montreal and New Jersey. Personal interviews based on in-depth, open-ended questions were used to examine how parentally bereaved children and their families were affected in the short term and into early adulthood. The use of resources, coping strategies helpful to the participants, and adaptation to the death were also explored. The findings of the study are discussed through the lens of the Double ABC-X model of family stress and adaptation. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) pile-up of stressors aggravates grieving; (b) benefits of social support; (c) coping strategies used by the participants; (d) adaptation to the loss of a parent — personal growth and maturation. Implications for future research and practitioners working with this population are discussed.

Keywords

• parentally bereaved
• adolescents
• coping
• grief
• qualitative
• family stress