Finding Support in a Field of Devastation: Bereaved Parents' Narratives of Communication and Recovery

摘要

The researcher employed Hastings's (2000) use of fractured identities to analyze recovery in 5 married couples' narratives of parental bereavement. The research question guiding this study asked what forms of communicative support are described in bereaved parents' narratives that promote the recovery of their fractured identities. Through narratives from in-depth interviews three forms of communication that support recovery were identified: acknowledgement, compassion, and inclusion. A discussion defines recovery and delineates each communicative form. Theoretical implications for supporting fractured identities are explored, as well as practical implications for researchers and social networks. Finally, limitations and areas for future research are addressed.