Journeys Through the Terrain of Grief: Bereaved Parents’ Narratives Across Time

Abstract

The death of a parent's child is a particularly devastating form of loss, and there remains a need to further understand bereaved parents’ experiences to inform the support offered to them. This study makes a unique contribution to this field by focusing on latter stages of grief. Using narrative inquiry, bereaved parents’ stories of grief over time was explored, enriching our understanding of how parents adjust to life following the death of their child. Eight UK-based bereaved parents recruited via a peer support organization participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using narrative analysis methodologies. Findings are presented using a landscape metaphor, with parents initially navigating “treacherous terrain” in early grief, and then “flat terrain” in later grief which brings new challenges, including feeling less connected to their child, as well as pressure to “put on an act” around others. Findings have important implications for clinical practice and future research.