Connecting and disconnecting: bereavement experiences of six gay men

This research investigation explored the bereavement experiences of gay partners of men who died of AIDS-related complications. Interviews with six men provided data for analysis using the qualitative method of grounded theory. Two basic social-psychological processes were identified that characterized the bereavement experience: connecting and disconnecting. Themes generated from the data that described the process of connecting were: sharing the death, caring for the PWA, legitimizing the relationship, memorializing, and AIDS-related work. Performing death-related tasks, letting go of the relationship, and passage characterized the process of disconnecting. Special considerations for bereavement in gay men and implications for nursing are discussed.