Changes in Relationships in Bereaved Families: Perspectives of Mothers Who Lost a Child to Cancer

Min Ah Kim1, Jina Sang2, Jaehee Yi3

  • 1Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Omega
|September 27, 2021
PubMed

The loss of a child greatly affects the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in bereaved families. This study explored the relationships in bereaved Korean families from the perspectives of mothers after the death of a child due to cancer. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 bereaved mothers of a deceased child with childhood cancer. Thematic analysis identified 12 subthemes related to bereaved mothers' struggles in grief within three significant themes based on family relationships: (a) relationship with husband; (b) relationship with surviving child or children; and (c) relationships with extended family members. Findings highlight bereaved mothers' need to build supportive family relationships while acknowledging bereaved family members' different grieving styles and their own challenges in grieving the loss of a child.

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