Bereavement during motherhood: a mixed method pilot study exploring bereavement while parenting
Keywords:
bereavement, motherhood, attachment, prolonged griefAbstract
AbstractThis mixed method retrospective pilot study empirically investigated the grief experience of mothers of small children who were bereaved during motherhood. Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), life satisfaction, and attachment styles were measured among a web-based sample of 37 mothers using quantitative measures, and essay questions were used to gather qualitative data. Results indicated that while none of the mothers met the complete criteria for PGD, 49% endorsed presently experiencing separation distress, 24% endorsed frequently experiencing psychological symptoms and 14% reported current impairment in daily living. Insecure attachment style was positively correlated with higher PGD scores. Qualitative findings also indicated that although challenging, motherhood offered a distraction from grief, and provided a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Motherhood seems to have helped them to be less susceptible to prolonged grief complications. This was also responsible for their low scores on the PG-13, since a lack of purpose and identity in life are paramount in meeting criteria for complicated grief. Mothers also scored high on overall life satisfaction on the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) despite their loss.
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