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Mother-loss: recreating relationship and meaning.
P J Dietrich1, C L McWilliam, S F Ralyea
1Faculty of Health Sciences-School of Nursing, University of Western Ontario, London.
Summary
Losing a mother profoundly impacts adult women, representing the loss of a primary relationship. Understanding this unique mother-loss experience is crucial for personal growth and healing.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Nursing
Background:
- The mother-daughter relationship is foundational to a woman's development.
- Mother loss is a significant life event with profound implications for adult women.
- Existing research may not fully capture the nuanced experiences of mother loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the lived experiences of adult women who have lost their mothers.
- To explore the meanings attached to mother loss within the context of the mother-daughter relationship.
- To identify themes that characterize the process of grieving mother loss.
Main Methods:
- Interpretive phenomenological inquiry.
- Purposive sampling of 5 adult women.
- Data collection through written narratives, in-depth interviews, and a group session.
Main Results:
- Seven emergent themes: Recalling, Holding On, Saying Goodbye, Longings of the Heart, Shifting Patterns of Relationship, Recreating the Dialogue, and Honouring Our Mothers/Ourselves.
- Mother loss signifies the end of a unique, primary intimate relationship.
- The experience of mother loss is deeply intertwined with personal development and identity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the mother-daughter dynamic is key to comprehending mother loss.
- Nurses can facilitate healing by recognizing the complexity of this grief and its developmental impact.
- Supportive care informed by women's experiences can promote health and personal growth after mother loss.