Mothers' Bereavement Process Following the Death of a Child from Childhood Cancer : Significance of Their Participation in Self-help Groups/Support Groups Based on Mothers' Narratives'

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand mothers' bereavement process following the death of a child from childhood cancer and the significance of their participation in self-help groups/support groups(abbreviating to SHG/SG hereafter). It is based on the life story told by 15 mothers who lost a child from childhood cancer and have experienced the opportunity to participate in SHG/SG. The data were analyzed using the holistic-form-analysis-method and the categorical-content-analysis-method. Six categories were discovered before participating in the group. They were 'steeped in a feeling of freedom', 'shocked', 'falling through the floor', 'not facing up to the reality', 'drifted apart', and 'changing of the family relations'. And two categories were discovered about how mothers take a step forward to group participation. They were 'silent grief' and 'taking a step forward to group participation'. And five categories were discovered in mothers' experience in the exchange meeting or support group. They were 'facing up to the reality', 'removing the fixed idea', 'finding out the power to live', 'recognizing self change' and 'deepened grief'. Three categories were discovered in the mothers' life after participating in the group. They were 'maintaining the balance of mind and body', 'keeping bond with the child', and 'reorganizing the feeling'.