RESILIENCE AFTER LOSS: REFLECTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS LOSING LOVED ONES IN THEIR FAMILIES

Abstract

The loss of a loved one in the family has the potential to bring loss of significant roles and responsibilities and disrupt the normal family functioning processes. The process of adaptation demands re-organization and re-calibration of roles and responsibilities and regaining the coherence of reality in life. Such processes of rebuilding and moving forward in lives are referred to as Resilience. The relational position and the familial context have an important influence on the experiences of adaptation among bereaved individuals. It is therefore important to understand the experience of reconstruction and rebuilding of individuals belonging to different relational positions in their families. 

The paradigm of constructivism was followed to answer the research questions of the present study. In-depth interviews were conducted with eleven bereaved individuals belonging to different relational positions in their families. The age of participants was in the range of 19 to 50 years with a mean of M= 35.6 years. Five participants had experienced the death of a spouse, four had experienced the death of a parent and two had experienced the death of a child in their families.The time since the death of a family member was in the range of 2 to 5 years with a mean of M= 3.1 years. The data from participants was analysed using thematic analysis(Clarke & Braun, 2013).

 The experiences of participants were portrayed in the following themes: “changed Life Perspective”, “Reconstructed Identity”, and “Increased Commitment Towards the Family”.

The findings identify the positive aspects of the experience of bereaved individuals belonging to different relational positions in their families. Such findings have implications for grief counselors and therapists in helping the bereaved individuals build upon their positive aspects and focus on what is working in their lives as they move forward in reconstructing their lives.