Feeling the absence: a content analysis from the Scott and White grief study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Grief Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• Understanding how individuals process profound loss is crucial for mental health.
• Bereavement involves complex cognitive and emotional responses to the death of a loved one.
• Previous research has explored various aspects of grief, but the specific meaning-making processes require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the unique meaning constructs bereaved individuals develop after experiencing a loss.
• To identify the most prevalent themes in how mourners make sense of their loved one's death.
• To categorize meaning constructs based on their focus (e.g., suffering vs. hope, instrumental vs. existential).

Main Methods:

• A qualitative content analysis was performed on free-essay responses from 85 mourners.
• Participants answered the question: 'What does the death of your loved one mean to you?'
• Meaning constructs were identified and categorized.

Main Results:

• Nine unique meaning constructs emerged from the analysis.
• The most prominent construct related to the theme of feeling the absence of the decedent.
• Meaning categories were distinguished between those focused on pain/suffering versus recovery/hope, and between instrumental versus philosophical/existential meanings.

Conclusions:

• Bereaved individuals actively construct meaning from their loss experiences.
• The theme of absence is a significant component of meaning-making in bereavement.
• Further research is needed to explore the relationship between specific meaning constructs and successful bereavement adaptation.