When the Death and the Grief of a Loved one Reshape Interpersonal Relationships: A Qualitative Study
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Abstract
Introduction: During bereavement, support is extremely important, as it influences the experience of those who are grieving. This support is closely linked to interpersonal relationships, which can change following a death. Although essential, these relationships can sometimes be beneficial or difficult.
Objective: This study aims to understand the meaning of interpersonal relationships as perceived by bereaved individuals following the death of a loved one.
Method: A qualitative study was conducted with 10 bereaved individuals who had experienced the death of a loved one within the past year. The study was conducted in 2 phases: 10 individual interviews and 1 focus group. The data were analyzed using Smith’s interpretative phenomenological analysis method.
Results: The themes 1) between proximity and distance: a relational ambivalence; 2) in search of a new relational balance and 3) the transformation of relationships throughout the grieving process, emerge from the analysis. Together, these themes highlight how bereaved individuals perceive the reactions of those around them, cope with these reactions, and gradually redefine their relationships in the experience of grief.
Discussion and Conclusion: Interpersonal relationships appear to be redefined by the experience of grief. The results reveal a marked ambivalence characterized by a tension between the desire for closeness and the need for distance. The gap between inner needs and the implicit expectations of those around bereaved individuals contributes to a gradual transformation of relationships, at the heart of the process of rebuilding meaning following loss.
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