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When the mirror breaks: Meaning-making in twin loss
Michal Mahat-Shamir1, Hagit Freireich-Eyal1
1School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.
Death Studies
|September 5, 2025
Summary
Losing a twin feels like a physical amputation, leaving survivors feeling incomplete and alone. This study highlights the unique grief of bereaved twins and the need for specialized support.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Grief Studies
- Existential Psychology
Background:
- Twin relationships exhibit profound intimacy.
- Meaning-making processes after twin loss are under-researched.
- Bereaved twins face unique existential challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how individuals reconstruct meaning after losing a twin.
- To identify the lived experiences of adult twins who have lost their twin.
- To inform therapeutic approaches for bereaved twins.
Main Methods:
- Employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
- Conducted semi-structured interviews with eleven adult twins experiencing twin loss.
- Analyzed qualitative data to identify recurring themes and experiences.
Main Results:
- Identified two primary themes: 'physical amputation' and 'alone in a world meant for two'.
- Participants used embodied metaphors (e.g., 'amputation', 'tear') to describe existential rupture and incompleteness.
- Twinship was characterized as a core relational element shaping self-perception and life narratives.
Conclusions:
- Bereaved twins constitute a distinct group requiring specialized therapeutic support.
- Relationally sensitive meaning reconstruction approaches are crucial for healing.
- Further research should explore cross-cultural aspects and differences between identical and fraternal twins.
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