Competing Developmental Demands Among Suicide-Bereaved Emerging Adults

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Grief Studies

Background:

• Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period.
• Suicide bereavement presents unique grief experiences.
• Limited research exists on grief in emerging adulthood, particularly suicide grief.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conceptualize theory on grief and emerging adulthood.
• To understand the suicide grief experience in this developmental stage.
• To identify common themes in suicide grief among emerging adults.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative group case study.
• Criterion sampling of 150 suicide-bereaved emerging adults.
• Observation, oral data recording, and quarterly program evaluations.

Main Results:

• Common themes emerged regarding unique suicide grief experiences.
• Conceptualized grief experiences appear to oppose traditional grief tasks.
• Participants were members of a suicide loss support group.

Conclusions:

• Grief experiences in emerging adulthood, especially after suicide, are distinct.
• There is a potential conflict between emerging adult grief and established grief tasks.
• This population requires further research and targeted support.