Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Bereavement Social aspects'

The experiment examined negative social reactions to bereaved parents from unrelated others. Both the behavior displayed by the parent and attachment style of the perceiver were expected to influence reactions to bereaved parents. Undergraduates at a southern university (N = 239) completed both attachment measures and measures of reactions to videotapes of bereaved parents. Results indicated that bereaved parents do indeed receive negative evaluations from unrelated others, in the form of decreased willingness to interact in various roles. However, a nonbereaved parent displaying depressive symptoms also received negative evaluations. Depressed targets in the present study did receive negative evaluations, supporting the predictions of Coyne's interpersonal-process theory of reactions to depressed individuals. Contrary to the predictions of interpersonal-process theory, a bereaved parent displaying loss content without depressive symptoms also elicited negative evaluations. Coyne's hypothesis that the amount of induced negative affect in the perceiver leads to negative evaluations was not supported by the data. Subjects appear to react to a complex set of factors when forming these evaluations, including both personal and situational information. Two factors may have undermined the present study s ability to adequately test this theory. Subjects may have perceived depressive symptoms in loss content in the present study. Further, subjects may not have identified with the parent in the present study as anticipated. Research is necessary to identify the amount and focus of subjects' identifications with depressed and bereaved targets. Only minor support was found for the prediction that attachment style would be related to reactions to bereaved parents. Continuous measures of attachment style were related to amount of induced negative affect. However, grouping subjects by attachment patterns was not related to either induced negative affect or evaluations. The present study and previous research suggest the possibility that conceptually attachment may contain several components which relate to behavior in varying degrees and ways. Further study of the components of attachment is necessary to clarify what behaviors are related to attachment disturbance.

With the widespread use of the Internet, grief has been extended in its representation. Specifically, social networking sites, like MySpace, have turned grief presentation from private expressions into public displays of mourning. This study utilizes the theoretical foundations of the grief presentation process of Kübler-Ross' (1969) five categories of bereavement (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) to determine whether the grief presentation process is present in an online setting. In this study, the researcher conducted an empirical investigation of 4,931 comments, resulting in 22,263 bereavement themes outlined by Kübler-Ross, which were condensed into 2,288 time-point comparisons posted to 140 MySpace profiles of users who have passed-on. Results revealed noteworthy practices surrounding grief presentation on the MySpace profiles of the deceased. Specifically, bereaved commenters post a significantly greater number of bereavement narratives in the first three months post-mortem as opposed to months four through six. Additionally, race and sex of the deceased, as well as sex of the bereaved, did not prove to be mitigating factors in online grief presentation. Moreover, across observed races and sexes, the bereavement category of acceptance was found most often, followed by depression, denial, anger, and bargaining. Findings suggest that post-mortem commenting behavior blends current memorializing practices while also extending the space for communication and grief presentation. Additional implications for understanding grief communication on MySpace and future directions for research conclude this study.

This research project used a Husserlian phenomenologlcal approach to explore grief and Its Impact upon men and women who have experienced the sudden and unanticipated death of his or her partner. The use of Husserllan phenomenologlcal research Into thanatologlcal study Is a valuable method of exposing the experiences of bereaved people In a vibrant and deep manner. Husserlian phenomenology allowed the surviving partner to reveal every aspect of his or her everyday life and experlencas. It Included what grief meant to them, how It was manifested In their everyday lives and how their partner's death had Impacted upon his or her relationship with themselves, with others and the world. The stories told by the surviving partner were unique, however shared common themes.

There were four major purposes of this study: (1) to evaluate the level of grief experience by bereaved individuals who attend either a grief support group or grief psycho-educational group in the Inland Empire, (2) to evaluate the level of spirtuality experienced by bereaved individuals who attend either a grief support or grief psycho-educational group in the Inland Empire, (3) to correlate the level of grief reactions with the level of spiritual experience within bereaved individuals, and (4) to describe demongraphic and grief/spiritual-related factors that may influence a bereaved individual's spiritual experience and grief process.

The dominant emphasis in Western models of bereavement is on the breaking of bonds with the deceased in order for healing to occur. Failure to let go often leads to a diagnosis of 'pathological grief'. This paper challenges the assumption that death invariably means that the bonds with the deceased have to be severed. Situating Western models of bereavement in a modernist context not only challenges the 'truth' claims of these models, but also facilitates a deconstruction of the elements that contribute to the emphasis on letting go. In contrast to these theories, two Xhosa rituals (umkhapho and umbuyiso) that seek to sustain the bond with the deceased person will be examined. Such rituals demonstrate that it is possible to both maintain the bond and for the bereaved person to move on with their lives. Despite different contexts, it will be argued that these Xhosa bereavement rituals have a contribution to make to Western models of bereavement and some implications for therapy will be explored.

This paper aims to present, discuss, and analyze the potential role of digital games within practices of memory, bereavement, and inheritance. The paper examines how users inhabit game environments, how their in-game memories and identities extend into the real world, and what kind of digital legacy players may be leaving behind. A study based on theoretical frameworks relating to memorialization and grief processing is conducted to look at how games can become part of mourning and memorialization practices.

The purpose of this study was: (1) to evaluate the level of grief experienced by healthcare providers in a pediatric subacute facility, (2) to compare the levels of grief between different groups of healthcare providers (Certified Nurses' Aides, Licensed Nurses, and Respiratory Care Practitioners), and (3) to describe the personality/demographic factors that influence a healthcare provider's ability to cope effectively with compound grief.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis deals with pastoral grief care for children orphaned through HIV and AIDS in Nairobi City County in Kenya (formerly Nairobi Province in Kenya). This concern developed as a result of realising that children’s grief is rarely attended to before, during and after burial in most Kenyan communities. The research question that guided the research was: What theoretical, theological and contextual pastoral intervention strategy can the church use to provide grief care to children orphaned through HIV and AIDS? To respond to this question, the research had four objectives, which helped the researcher to remain focused on the key problem. An empirical research design was adopted to establish the impact the death of parents has on children and to examine how their grief has been responded to, particularly by the church. It was clear that children do experience grief that manifests in various forms including emotional, behavioural, cognitive, spiritual and physical responses. Grief is also heightened by the events that transpire after the death of parents plus the status of the children as double orphans, paternal orphans or maternal orphans. Despite the fact that children are overwhelmed by grief and grief-related issues when their parents die, the family and community as well as the church, rarely provide children with grief care. Through a literature study the research engaged with other disciplines in order to broaden the understanding of children’s grief. The study revealed that children’s development in general is affected by their grief and their stage of development, in turn, has an effect on their grief. However, it should be noted that African cultures have great impact on the development of African children and their grief. It was also noted that African people have their own way of grieving and mourning when a family loses a person through death. Various rituals that are calculated to help the mourning family work to through the grief process are performed. Interestingly, children rarely participate in the performance of such rituals. It was very clear that, in order to provide pastoral grief care to children orphaned through HIV and AIDS, it is of utmost importance to understand the nature of human beings in relation to God. Such an understanding could determine how the church responds to the grieving children’s situation. It is suggested that the church should work closely with the family, community and institutions in order to provide meaningful pastoral grief care within an African setting. It was argued that various rituals performed during funeral ceremonies are of help in grieving and the mourning process; hence it is suggested that children should also be given the opportunity to participate in performing the rituals. It is noted that the Christian and cultural rituals that are relevant to grief care could be employed. Given the above understanding, a pastoral intervention strategy for grief care to children orphaned through HIV and AIDS is proposed. Different interventions that respond to children’s grief and grief-related issues before, during, and after burial are discussed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die pastorale vertroosting van kinders wat in die Nairobi City County in Kenya (die voormalige Nairobi Provinsie) as gevolg van MIV en vigs wees gelaat is. Dit bied 'n pastorale ingrypingstrategie in reaksie tot die verdriet van kinders wat as gevolg van MIV en vigs as wese atergelaat is. Kommer hieroor het ontstaan by die besef dat die bedroefdheid van kinders in die meeste Keniaanse gemeenskappe selde vóór, tydens of ná ‘n begrafnis aandag kry. Die navorsingsvraag wat die navorsing gerig het, was: Watter teoretiese, teologiese en kontekstuele pastorale intervensiestrategie kan deur die kerk gebruik word om vertroosting vir treurende kinders wat vanweë MIV en vigs wese geword het, te bied? Vier doelstellings is vir die beantwoording van hierdie vraag opgestel om te verseker dat die navorser se fokus op die kernprobleem ingestel bly. ‘n Empiriese navorsingontwerp is gekies om die impak van die dood van ouers op kinders te bepaal en uit te vind hoe hul bedroefdheid, veral deur die kerk, hanteer is. Dit was duidelik dat kinders wel treur, en dat hul droefheid in die vorm van emosionele, gedrags-, kognitiewe, geestelike en fisiese reaksies geopenbaar word. Die intensiteit van kinders se droefheid word ook verhoog deur gebeure wat op die dood van die ouers volg, sowel as die kinders se status as dubbele weeskinders of as vaderlose of moederlose weeskinders. Ten spyte van die feit dat kinders deur hartseer en verdriet-verwante aangeleenthede oorweldig word wanneer hul ouers sterf, bied die familie en die gemeenskap, sowel as die kerk, selde vertroostende sorg aan sulke kinders. Die navorser het ander dissiplines deur middel van ‘n literatuurstudie betrek om begrip van kinderdroefheid te verbreed. Die studie het onthul dat kinders se ontwikkeling in die algemeen deur hul bedroefdheid geaffekteer word en dat hul fase van ontwikkeling weer hul droefheid beïnvloed. Daar moet egter in ag geneem word dat Afrika-kulture ’n groot impak op die ontwikkeling van kinders van Afrika en hul verdriet het. Dat mense van Afrika droefheid en rou op ‘n eie manier bedryf wanneer ‘n familielid te sterwe kom, moet ook in ag geneem word. Daar is ‘n verskeidenheid rituele wat daarop gemik is om die roubeklaers in staat te stel om die rouproses te deurwerk. Kinders neem selde hieraan deel. Dit was duidelik dat dit van uiterste belang is om die natuur van die mens in verhouding tot God te verstaan om vertroostende pastorale sorg aan kinders wat vanweë MIV en vigs wees geword het, te bied. Die verstaan hiervan kan bepaal hoe die kerk op die situasie van kinders wat treur, reageer. Die voorstel is dat die kerk noue samewerking met die familie, die gemeenskap en instellings moet handhaaf om betekenisvolle vertroostende pastorale sorg binne die Afrika-opset te bied. Daar word aangevoer dat die verskillende rituele wat gedurende begrafnis seremonies uitgevoer word, van hulp is in rou en die rouproses, dus word voorgetel dat kinders ‘n geleentheid moet kry om aan die rituele deel te neem. Christelike en kulturele rituele wat van toepassing is kan gebruik word. 'n Pastorale intervensiestrategie vir vertroostende sorg aan kinders wat as gevolg van MIV en vigs wees gelaat is, word aan die hand van die bogenoemde insig voorgestel. Verskillende ingrypings wat op die kind se hartseer en rou-verwante kwessies vóór, gedurende en ná die begrafnis betrekking het, word bespreek.

The US Bureau of the Census (1999) projected that by 2004, 14 million people in sub-Saharan Africa will develop full blown AIDS, making this region by far the largest disease burden in the world (World Health Organization, 2002). The United Nations AIDS Programme judged South Africa to have the leading number of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide (World Health Organisation, 2002). To date there has been extensive research conducted on the socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS on families in Africa. However an area of investigation that has remained largely underreported is the inquiry into the psychological impacts of HIV/AIDS on elderly caregivers. In African families older women increasingly have to provide care to their adult children with AIDS and their orphaned grandchildren. However few research studies have assessed the experience of parental caregiving and its psychological impacts on these women. This qualitative research study hypothesised that the role of primary parental caregiver in fact causes a range of psychologically distressing states, which serve to compromise the psychological well-being of these caregivers. To investigate this hypothesis three Xhosa speaking women living in informal settlements in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were selected for the study. The women were interviewed by means of semi-structured interviews, which consisted of questions related to their caregiving experiences, their experiences of loss, their choice of coping strategies, the role of support networks and their experiences of foster care responsibilities. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using a grounded hermeneutic approach. The research results confirmed the working hypothesis. The research revealed that although it was considered culturally appropriate for older women to care for their children and grandchildren, their caregiver roles caused significant psychological distress. Their distress was related to: emotional and physical exhaustion, complicated grief reactions and ongoing emotional and physical upheaval related to foster care responsibilities. Based on the results, the research recommendations emphasised the need for continual awareness of the psychological implications of caregiving for older African women with the aim to preserve their capacity to function as the primary caring resource to families struck by HIV/AIDS.

This study was conducted on the mourning rituals of the AmaXhosa widows of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study focused on the descriptive presentation of the experiences of the AmaXhosa widows in the Buffalo City municipality of the Province. The study sought to establish the widows’ perceptions regarding the mourning rituals and to interpret their experiences within the context of contemporary cultural, religious, gender and socio-political influences. The experiences among the widows interviewed were found to have a similar context but their perceptions about the mourning rituals were different between the widows younger than 40 years and those older than 50 years. Widows from urban and rural areas of East London, Mdantsane Township and from within a 60 kilometre radius of East London were interviewed. Purposive random sampling was used to identify an equal number of either urban or rural voluntary participants for the study. Structured interviews were held with widows ranging in age from 29 to 91 years. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the recorded discussions was conducted. The experiences of the AmaXhosa widows during the conduct of the mourning rituals are described. The key findings of the study indicated that most of the widows felt they had to go through the mourning rituals mainly to show respect for their departed husbands and so that the dignity of the family and clan was maintained. The mourning rituals seemed mostly to have negative implications for the widows such as a lack of family and financial support and being treated as social outcasts; however the rituals also seemed to help the women adjust to their new status as widows. Although the mourning rituals were embedded in the socio-cultural tradition generally followed by the AmaXhosa, religious beliefs also influenced some of the traditions by introducing changes in the way some widows conducted the mourning rituals. For example, some religions advocated for shorter periods of mourning than usual as well as wearing different types of mourning clothes from the usual black or purple dress. Overall the perceptions of the older widows aged above 50 years revealed that they had no reservations about performing the mourning rituals and quite readily and unquestioningly accepted the customs. The younger widows aged below 40 years on the other hand felt that the mourning rituals were biased against women and did not serve a useful purpose and even proposed changes to the manner in which the mourning rituals are conducted particularly the shortening of the mourning period from 12 to 6 months or less. However, they seemed to recognize the role played by the mourning ritual in lessening and possibly healing the pain and sorrow caused by their bereavement.

Among the AmaXhosa the death of a person is marked by a tradition called ukuzila - the equivalent of the mourning process. As a sign of spousal mourning, and to show respect, the remaining spouse has to put on a marker (be visible). However, it is mostly the woman who is under obligation to show her mourner status by wearing ‘clothes of mourning’. The discriminatory nature of the practice, especially pertaining to visibility and some of the detrimental effects on the widows’ health and safety have been documented by some researchers, but the reasons for the continuity of visibility remain largely unexplored. Taking into account the dynamic nature of ‘culture’, this research explored the discourses deployed in men and women’s constructions of ukuzila specifically focusing on spousal mourning and the continuity of widows’ visibility in spite of their resistance to it. The research used postcolonial feminism drawing on postructuralism as its theoretical lens. This theoretical lens provided useful concepts such as hybridity, visibility, surveillance and power with which to examine spousal mourning and conceptualised people’s subject positions as multiple, fluid and contingent. Furthermore, the research employed thematic and discourse analysis at its methodology. Discourse analysis was employed to identify and analyse the discourses utilised in the constructions of spousal mourning. The research was conducted through focus group discussions held with younger and older urban and rural men and women, as well as interviews held with widows and widowers and key cultural informants. Concerning the question of constructions of spousal mourning for men and women, visibility of the mourner emerged as a central and contentious issue. Some participants were of the view that one could show mourning by engaging in culturally appropriate mourning behaviour, whilst others were of the view that showing one’s mourning had to be visible by publicly displaying mourning through a marker. Another group proposed mourning “by heart”, whereby the mourners’ status could either be inferred from their behaviour, whereas others maintained that behaviour was not mandatory. Various justifications for the continued visibility of widows were advanced. These justifications included showing love and respect to the deceased husband; showing respect to the ancestors; and helping to monitor their own behaviour in order to ensure that it is in line with appropriate mourning behaviour. The continued visibility of widows was also used to regulate the widows’ sexuality. Widows were coerced to put on ‘clothes of mourning’ in order to ‘protect’ them from being approached by men for a relationship during the mourning period. The regulation of the movement of widows was also managed through visibility. Widows’ movements were restricted in order to protect the community from pollution or bad luck. For example, they were not allowed to visit places of entertainment or visit other households. Key discourses identified were the familial-‘ukwenda’, respect-‘hlonipha’, and male sexual drive (MSD) discourse. The familial - ‘ukwenda’ discourse is centred on the idea that one is ‘married to the household’, which includes the nuclear family and wider extended family including ancestors. According to the respect-‘hlonipha’ discourse, respect is due to others on the basis of their age, status, and more especially their gender. Showing respect (hlonipha) necessitates the avoidance of all forms of behaviour and utterances that could be deemed disrespectful. The MSD holds a widespread view of sexuality as a biological drive that resides within each male and it was drawn on to make sense of discontinued visibility among widowers, whilst visibility of widows continued. It is argued that it is these discourses, embedded in the ‘culture’ of the AmaXhosa and upheld by the family that sustain the discriminatory nature of the practice, especially concerning the continued visibility of widows in spite of the resistance that has been voiced.

La tesi s’apropa al fet migratori mitjançant dos actors principals, que configuren els objectius generals del l’estudi, les persones immigrants i les seves trajectòries i els treballadors socials que sovint els atenen. Les referències teòriques deriven de disciplines diverses, com la psicoanàlisi, en concret les nocions d’imaginari i de dol; l’estrès, concepte extern al cos teòric esmentat i referit a les modificacions físiques i psíquiques d’un organisme sotmès a situacions de tensió variables, i finalment, les nocions d’inserció, vulnerabilitat i desafiliació, procedents de la sociologia, les qual permeten dibuixar trajectes bidireccionals per l’espai social. Altrament, s’analitza l’acompanyament i escolta que, des del Treball social, es fa a les trajectòries de les persones immigrants i les eines de la professió per l’abordatge d’una qüestió específica. Aquests objectius han estat plasmats en diferents hipòtesi. La metodologia emprada en la recerca ha estat de caire qualitatiu, entenent que aquesta aportava una imatge més propera l’objecte d’estudi. S’han emprat tres tècniques diferents, dues adreçades a les persones immigrants, l’estudi de cas i l’entrevista, i la tercera, els grups de discussió, referida als professionals. S’analitzen sis casos, treballats en diferents temps pel signatari de la tesi, quatre com a professional del treball social i dos com a psicòleg; catorze entrevistes a immigrants extracomunitaris de diferents procedències: Quatre del nord d’Àfrica, cinc de l’Àfrica subsahariana i cinc d’Amèrica Llatina. Finalment s’ha treballat amb les aportacions de dos grups de discussió, un de persones vinculades al fet migratori, anomenat grup d’experts, i un segon grup de persones que tot i trobar-se el fet migratori, no l’havien abordat o de manera exclusiva o de manera intensa. Per l’anàlisi de la informació s’ha emprat un sistema de categories el qual s’ha estabilitzat progressivament a mesura que avançava la recerca. L’anàlisi de la informació obtinguda té varis subapartats, en un primer es treballen casos i entrevistes per separat. El segon ítem es refereix als professionals del treball social i analitza, també per separat, els continguts extrets de cadascun dels grups de discussió. Un darrer punt d’aquest apartat pren les categories com a unitat d’anàlisi, en relació a les hipòtesi plantejades, permetent aquesta darrera tasca el creuament de les dades globals obtingudes. Entre els resultats més remarcables s’ha d’esmentar la discordança entre la representació originaria i la derivada els transit migratori, essent la primera un marc idealitzat. Aquesta discordança genera percepcions diverses i contraries entre la persona immigrant i els familiars que rauen en origen. L’imaginari en tant expectativa és susceptible de noves significacions derivades de la transició migratòria. Un fet que ha erosionat les representacions originàries ha estat l’anomenada crisi econòmica, que s’ha addicionat als estressors que van, sovint, aparellats al procés. L’elaboració dels processos de dol té temporalitats diferenciades, és però perllongada en el temps, un facilitador d’aquests processos és el suport dels familiars al projecte migratori, mentre que solitud i l’aïllament configuren un entrebanc. La dificultat augmenta notòriament quan la separació implica els fills. Evitar el dolor derivat de les pèrdues implica l’ús de defenses diverses, entre les quals cal comptabilitzar la idealització d’un retorn futur, la negació o l’escissió. L’estrès associat a la transició migratòria i les seves circumstàncies duu aparellades malalties de caire orgànic, que especialment semblen tenir major incidència en els primers moments del procés. La procedència és rellevant, ja que el viatge s’esdevé per algunes persones com a estressor d’altra intensitat. Un dels estressors més assenyalats és la situació d’inseguretat jurídica. Aquesta darrera afecta el procés en tant obstacle. Pel treball social és important la incorporació de la biografia, tradicions i costums dels immigrants atesos al si de l’espai assistencial. L’enquadrament assistencial s’esdevé, en determinades situacions, com eina facilitadora de processos d’interculturalitat, de contenció de l’estrès i d’escolta del dol. Aquest espai d’atenció requereix formació i suports, tanmateix, no sembla necessitar la mediació intercultural. De les situacions d’irregularitat administrativa en deriva manca d’atenció, especialment des de les àrees bàsiques d’atenció primària. Contràriament, el suport des del tercer sector es presenta de manera clara i generalitzada .
This thesis attempts an approach to the migration phenomenon by using two of the main factors that form the general aim of the study: first the immigrants and their experiences on one hand and the social workers that assist them on the other. The theoretical references come from different disciplines such as Psychology, Psychoanalysis and Sociology; the essential concepts are imaginary, mourning, stress, inclusion, vulnerability and discrimination. Besides these, there is also an analysis of the work carried out by social services, how they counsel and assist immigrants with their life experiences and the tools and skills used in solving each specific issue. These goals appear in various hypotheses along the thesis. The research methodology used is qualitative, applying three different techniques: case study, in-depth interview (both carried out with immigrants) and discussion groups (professionals). The object of study is 6 cases, 14 interviews and two discussion groups. To analyse the information it has been divided in categories and these categories changed and adjusted as the work progressed. The analysis of the information obtained is divided in various subcategories; in the first category case study and interviews are treated separately. The second item is related to social work professionals and analyses, also separately, the ideas obtained from each one of the discussion groups. A last item in this section takes each category as a unit for analysis, in relation to the hypotheses presented, thus enabling the final task of cross-analysing the total data obtained. One of the most remarkable results of these analyses is the discrepancy between the idealization of the country of origin and its resulting representation after the migration. Development of mourning is prolonged along different time stages. With family support these stages can become shorter and easier to deal with, but on the other hand the process becomes again more difficult when migration involves children. The stress created by the migration process and its circumstances, are subsequently the cause of physical illnesses that seem to have more impact during the first stages of the process. The country of origin is relevant in the study since the journey can be more stressful for different people coming from different points in the world. Illegal or irregular status in the country of arrival is one of the stress factors mentioned more often. Within Social Work practice is important to take in account the biography, traditions and customs of immigrants assisted at the centres. This assistance consists often in facilitating processes of cross-cultural understanding, stress control and mourning counselling. As a result of their illegal situation or lack of sufficient documentation, immigrants endure lack of assistance, especially in primary care. In opposition to the public sector it becomes clear that the strongest support to the immigrant community comes from the third sector (as in voluntary sector).

M.A.
Death and loss accompany us throughout our lives and are experienced in a variety of forms and situations. Numerous researches have been undertaken to gain some perspective on death. and loss, however these attempts have proven to be impersonal, incomplete and of limited use, as death tends to evade direct scrutiny. An attempt is made here to observe death and loss from a stance that respects the human element. The personal experiences of adults who have lost parent/s at a young age are examined. This paper explores the constructions of death and loss, as well as the meanings that are attributed to these experiences. A social constructionist approach is used to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the participants' relationships with death and loss. One of the primary aims of this paper is to investigate the implications that these constructions of death and loss have for the way people live and make sense of their lives. This study focusses on how death requires the individual to reconstruct a sense of identity and relationship with the world. Some of the major conceptualisations of death, loss and mourning are reviewed in conjunction with the input of philosophers, poets and creative writers allowing for a richer, fuller perception of these events. The aim of this paper is not to develop a comprehensive understanding of death and loss, but rather to approach these constructs from a more personal perspective. This paper moves away from modernist thinking and includes the researcher as a participant where personal biases, experiences and understandings are included.

Not only does South Africa have the largest number of people with HIV/AIDS in the world, it continues to have a high mortality rate associated with AIDS due to the limited availability of antiretroviral treatment in this country. While a body of empirical research has developed in the West on the issue of AIDS-related bereavement, it has limited applicability to the South African context where the daily lives of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS are markedly different to those in more developed countries in the West, in terms of the extent of HIV-related morbidity and mortality, poverty, stigma, availability of social support, gender inequality, medical treatment, welfare services and government policies. An exploratory, descriptive study was therefore undertaken to examine AIDS-related bereavement experiences among adults in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. Qualitative face-face interviews were conducted with 18 adults who had lost one or more significant others to AIDS. Qualitative face-face interviews were also conducted with eight professionals working in non-governmental organizations in KwaZulu-Natal that served people affected by HIV/AIDS to obtain their perspectives on the issue of AIDS-related bereavement among clients and how they were addressing this issue within their organizations. A social ecological framework was used to understand participants' experiences with AIDS-related bereavement. Two major themes emerged: participants had to keep their grief to themselves and more urgent life stresses took priority in their lives. A conspiracy of silence existed as a result of the high level of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and a perceived lack of both informal and formal support for those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Grief was treated as a "luxury" in a sense and energies had to be focused on daily survival needs. Participants tended to suppress their emotions and relied on inner resources, in particular finding meaning in their loss and relying on their religious faith. Interviews with professionals confirmed these themes. Recommendations are made at both the local and national levels to address AIDS-related bereavement. It is suggested that while individual and group interventions should be developed for those at risk for complicated grief as a result of an AIDS-related loss, the focus needs to be on structural changes such as reducing HIV-related stigma, combating poverty, encouraging men to play a more active role in the care and support of those who are ill with HIV/AIDS or bereaved by the disease, and improving the status and capability of the social work profession to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the South African welfare policy framework. Further research needs to be conducted on AIDS-related bereavement in the South African context, considering the magnitude of AIDS-related loss and bereavement and the scarcity of indigenous information about this issue. Collaborations between researchers, practitioners and the bereaved are encouraged both in South Africa and internationally to highlight the unique nature of AIDS-related bereavement in the South African context and to test the efficacy of indigenous strategies and interventions to address AIDS-related bereavement.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

The high levels of HIV/AIDS and violent crime in South Africa mean that millions of children are being forced, and will continue to be forced, to deal with the death of a parent/primary caregiver in their early and middle childhood years. Acknowledging that does not lessen the apprehension and uneasiness which lingers in formal and informal discussions of children, death, dying and grief, nor does it ameliorate the fact that childhood bereavement is becoming a normative childhood experience in South Africa. It is vital, therefore, to understand what are South African children's experiences of bereavement and grief, and to explore what impacts are likely to be exerted on their development. Children do not grieve in the same way; and children's grief is influenced by factors such as environment, unique experiences, developmental level, personality, age and gender. Family, too, is important because it is still the primary institution of society, and it influences substantially how children understand death, bereavement and grief. The school, too, has an impact on childhood grief. The majority of school-going children in South Africa are in primary school grades. Attending primary school corresponds with (most often) middle childhood, which is a critically important developmental stage. The experience of bereavement and grief during middle childhood is challenging precisely because it occurs in such a sensitive emotionally, cognitively and socially developmental period. Childhood grief experienced in that period can have long-term consequences. Important, too, is the fact that school-going children will, more than for younger children, not only experience grief privately but will grieve in public settings such as the school setting. This study, therefore, was concerned with exploring and gaining insight into the dynamics of bereavement and grief as experienced by children, who were in middle childhood, and enrolled in the primary school system. An exploratory design was chosen to explore the issue. A purposive sample was drawn from the school's list of scholars, and included 25 children attending Grades Five to Seven (Senior Primary Phase) at a co-educational, English-medium, state school. Data were collected both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative primary data collection, involving in-depth interviews, was chosen because it allowed the researcher to explore the issue from the children's own perspectives. Each child was interviewed by the researcher over two to three sessions. Quantitative secondary data collection, involving key demographic and academic information extracted from the school's records, was included, and that helped triangulate and contextualise the data collected in the interviews. This study found that children in middle childhood do experience a diverse range of grief responses to the death of their parents/primary caregivers in the school environment, among other places, and some of those grief responses were challenging. Although respondents experienced different and confusing emotions; and although some had had their grief acknowledged by significant others, while others had not, all were able to engage in honest, clear discussions about death and grief. Respondents reported experiencing a range of secondary losses associated with the initial loss on their daily lives, and that was especially so for girl children. Respondents did know how to access support services but had not done so. The respondents also expressed a need to be encouraged to remember and memorialize their dead parent/primary caregiver. The study found, too, that the more prepared and supported the bereaved child was prior to that death, the better s/he coped with the event. Understanding children's bereavement can help those individuals and organisations, which are responsible for children's optimal development, provide children with the necessary support to prevent the child's bereavement and grief from becoming a lasting trauma.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

This Social Constructionist study originated from the researcher’s exposure to a significant loss and her unanswered questions about other cultures’ experience of grief. Literature is scarce from a social constructionist framework that focuses on the cultural experiences on death and bereavement from a South African perspective. The researcher’s aim was to provide three culturally diverse South African women constructed as ‘bereaved’ the opportunity to tell their stories of the death of a loved one and their bereavement thereof. The three diverse cultures were Tswana, Islamic Muslim and Afrikaans. A qualitative research method was employed. Unstructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with each of the three participants and the method used to analyze the collected data was thematic content analysis. The study allowed rich and valuable information about death and bereavement from three culturally diverse women to emerge. The themes of ‘mourning procedures and practices’, ‘bereavement behaviour’ ‘socio-political context’ and ‘private and public display of grief’ were identified as valuable areas for clinical practice and future research. Lay people, schools and the work environment too, will gain a better understanding of cultural differences on death and bereavement.
Psychology
M.A. (Psychology)

This study investigated the differences and similarities in bereavement due to HIV/AIDS and bereavement due to other forms of death. The participants comprised of nine (9) mothers and two (2) fathers of deceased children, varying in age from eight (8) months to twenty (20) years. A single, unstructured interview was used to collect the data. Grounded theory was utilised in the analysis of the qualitative data. Comparisons were drawn between HIV/AIDS and non- HIV /AIDS related bereavement. The findings indicate a difference in the experience of HIV/AIDS related bereavement and non-HIV/AIDS related bereavement. Stigma played a significant negative role in the experiences of those parents /caregivers whose children had died from HIV/AIDS. In addition, parents/caregivers experienced significant feelings of responsibility for their child 's infection although the child had not contracted the disease from the parent. The implications and applications of this study are twofold . Firstly, a better understanding of the bereavement process can result in important and innovative recommendations being implemented in order to refine existing HIV/AIDS intervention programmes or develop new ones. And, secondly, it can result in a more refined approach to the care and comfort that is currently being provided for HIV/AIDS patients and terminally ill patients and their families.
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

by Cheng Bing-yee, Banny.
Questionnaire in Chinese.
Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-151).
ABSTRACT --- p.11
Chapter ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.14
Chapter TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.18
Chapter 2.1 --- Bereavement --- p.18
Chapter 2.2 --- Stress --- p.24
Chapter 2.3 --- Social support --- p.33
Chapter 2.4 --- Quality of life --- p.43
Chapter THREE --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK --- p.50
Chapter 3.1 --- Conceptual definition of variables --- p.50
Chapter 3.2 --- Relationship of the variables in this study --- p.54
Chapter 3.3 --- Research questions and hypotheses of this study --- p.58
Chapter FOUR --- METHODOLOGY --- p.60
Chapter 4.1 --- Research design and sampling method --- p.60
Chapter 4.2 --- Data collection operation --- p.61
Chapter 4.3 --- Data analysis --- p.62
Chapter 4.4 --- Measuring instrument --- p.62
Chapter FIVE --- RESULTS --- p.67
Chapter 5.1 --- Demographic characteristics --- p.67
Chapter 5.2 --- Psychometric properties of the scales --- p.70
Chapter 5.3 --- "Descriptive findings on stress of bereavement, social support, and quality of life" --- p.73
Chapter 5.4 --- "Impact of demographic characteristics of the respondents on perceived stress, social support, and quality of life" --- p.103
Chapter 5.5 --- "Relationships between stressor, perceived stress, social support and quality of life" --- p.106
Chapter SIX --- DISCUSSION --- p.117
Chapter 6.1 --- Discussion on methodology of this study --- p.117
Chapter 6.2 --- Discussion on the results of the findings --- p.118
Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations of the research --- p.130
Chapter SEVEN --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION --- p.132
Chapter 7.1 --- Recommendations for general practice --- p.132
Chapter 7.2 --- Recommendations for bereavement services and program --- p.135
Chapter 7.3 --- Further Research --- p.141

Death is one of the few certainties in life. It comes to all of us, but the way in which we deal with it will vary according to a range of social and cultural factors. Based on my mother's experiences since being widowed, this dissertation has undertaken a qualitative research method to examine how Hindu widows express their mourning in their context, thereby defining their experiences of widowhood. The aim of this dissertation is to give voice to the mourning experiences of Hindu widows. By examining these constructions of mourning experiences, one is able to gain an understanding of grief from a cultural perspective, which may serve as a guide for professional counsellors and academics in their endeavours to provide much needed support and understanding for bereaved Hindu women. The epistemological framework is social constructionism. In this study five Hindu widows were interviewed with the intention of providing readers and fellow researchers with insight into their narratives, and the data was hermeneutically analysed. The participants' stories were interpreted and categorised into themes. This study allowed for elaborate and detailed descriptions about Hindu widows' experiences to surface, with the view that this study will broaden the way Hindu widowhood is thought of. Analyses reveals that within patriarchal society, Hindu widows appear inadequately prepared for their widowhood. As a result they experience financial, emotional and psychological difficulties, which make adjusting to widowhood a challenge. The perspective this study hopes to argue for is broader, inclusive, collaborative engagement and thinking in respect of Indian widowhood
Psychology
M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

South Africa is one of the countries most affected by HIV/AIDS, and the impact on children living in affected households and communit ies is significant. The loss of a parent or caregiver due to an AIDS. related illness has le ft many children orphaned. Understandings of bereavement. particularly amongst African adolescents. and adults’ responses to orphans’ psychological and emotional d ifficulties, remains under.developed. This paper explored adolescents’ experiences of par ental AIDS.related illness and bereavement. Ten adolescents participated in this s tudy. Qualitative methods such as observation, individual interviews and a focus grou p were the means of data collection. Key findings of the study were that: adolescents we re profoundly affected by the death of their parents with some showing signs of great anxi ety in relation to their future; were in need of emotional and material support; and were af fected by the intense stigma associated with HIV/AIDS which resulted in secrecy and shame. This study suggests that if we listen to the voices of children, we will learn about thei r emotional, psychological, developmental, and behavioural needs, which in turn will inform interventions working with vulnerable and orphaned children.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

AIDS-related bereavement counselling programmes
The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a need for specific bereavement counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, where death is believed to be fated. Six AIDS-bereaved women were recruited. Data analysis was conducted based on the women's interview transcripts and journal entries. The women experienced at least three traumatic life events. The most challenging experience was learning that they have contracted a disease they knew to be mostly associated with prostitution. Given the short lapse of time between their husbands' deaths and learning about their seropositivity, biographical disruption appeared to have acted as an "analgesic", while concerns to protect their children seemed to have triggered biographical reinforcement. This phenomenon may have brought about a positive bereavement outcome. Specific counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS are needed, but emphasis should first be placed on improving their wellbeing and their perception of stigma.
Sociology
M.A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS))

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how narrative therapy may facilitate not only a lessening of distressing symptoms for bereaved persons, but may also facilitate growth in identity. Five case studies are presented. The participants were chosen to illuminate different grief experiences. The case studies include a description of grieving people from different backgrounds, each with a unique relationship with the person or people who died, all of whom had different causes of death such as suicide, murder and natural causes. These differences provide an opportunity to explore the application of the therapy model with a range of grief experiences. A full and rich description of the experiences of the participants yield insight into the shared themes such as the impact of social expectations of how a grieving person should conduct him or herself, difficult physical and emotional experiences, the many losses flowing from the death, as well as an in-depth discussion of the identity growth that takes place as the bereaved person takes on different roles and tasks. Postmodern epistemology and social constructivism informed the praxis and interpretation of narrative therapy as bereavement model. Narrative therapy is shown as especially effective for grief therapy with therapeutic tenets such as deconstructing and creating richer narratives and alternative stories that enables the bereaved to explore diverse aspects of their character. The emphasis on what remains rather than what is lost, and the concept of remembering the loved one who died in the community of those who stay behind, transmute the loss-story to one of remembering and incorporating, which tends to bring significant emotional relief. This study contributes towards the field of growth through bereavement for which there seems to be a paucity in research. Furthermore, it provides additional evidence for post-traumatic growth in general, especially with the assistance of narrative therapy.
Psychology
Ph. D. (Psychology)

Finally, some recommendations for the development of bereavement counselling in relation to social policy, service delivery, education and training, workers' personal development, as well as future research were presented.
In--depth interviews were conducted with 12 social workers working in palliative care. This figure was nearly half of the total number of palliative care social workers in Taiwan, so the research findings may reflect the general situation of bereavement counselling in Taiwan. Their stories revealed the endeavours of these social workers in the past years and showed the development of the services from nothing to multifarious.
The narratives of the workers reflected the required individual characteristics of a bereavement counsellor, such as stability in emotion, resilience, creativity, psychic energy. Due to the nature of their work they often encountered death and sufferings, as well as feeling of helplessness. In facing different obstacles and challenges, some of them might retreat themselves at times, especially for those who were still entangled in their personal bereavement. Their emotional state would affect the establishment of effective helping relationship and subsequently the effectiveness of their service.
The research revealed that most of the social workers did not apply any specific theories, or techniques in working with the bereaved. Their narratives reflected that they worked with the bereaved by establishing a meaningful working relationship. They respected and accepted their clients' needs; their empathic support helped the bereaved face the pain of losing their loved ones. Their encouragement and assurance helped them develop and change. Their skills and methods matched well with those of humanism and existentialism. They also tended to adopt postmodernism approach of storytelling in helping the bereaved. Through narration, the workers helped the bereaved re-construct the meaning of their relationship with the deceased in their life.
The study revealed that the social workers considered most of the bereaved had the ability of self-healing, but for some, due to personal or environmental factors they might be entangled in their grief and might need assistance. Their work reflected the emphases of bereavement counselling in Taiwan. Besides counselling service, they also provided assistance in medical related matters, emotional support, enhancement of family members' communication, social adjustment and religious support. Due to the socio-cultural backgrounds of Taiwan, their tasks also included special arrangements at death and discussion of funeral services and rituals. The social workers also stressed the importance of the traditional value of harmony among Heaven, Earth and Man. They paid special attention to the emotional harmony of the bereaved, harmony between the bereaved and their relatives, and harmony among the social environment, the spiritual and the bereaved.
This study is a narrative analysis of the palliative care social workers' experiences in bereavement counselling in Taiwan. It explored the characteristics of bereavement counselling, the social workers' interpretation of their experiences and the cultural and contextual factors that affected the palliative care social workers and bereavement counselling.
李閏華.
Adviser: Mong Chow Amy Lam.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: A, page: .
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-305)
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Abstracts in Chinese and English.
Li Runhua.

This thesis studies the impact of the terminal illness and awareness of undergoing the dying process and inevitable death, at the KwaZulu Government hospital Ngwelezana, at Empangeni in the Lower Umfolozi District. A case study, drawing both upon nursing and social anthropology, was conducted to establish the experiences of death and dying of Zulu patients, their families and caregivers. The basic trend reflected in the findings is the need to discuss dying with patients, the lack of skills and knowledge on the part of caregivers, lack of recognition of patients' cultural beliefs. The study does not claim to deal with a complete spectrum of the experiences of death and dying of all Zulus but is a meaningful and significant innovation into an unresearched area of patient care.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1989.

This thesis constitutes a narrative that explores an alternative meaning construction for the experience of loss. During the telling of this story, I consider the appropriateness of adopting the 'new paradigm' approach for this particular thesis, and the constructivist and social constructionist epistemological assumptions underlying such an approach. I delve into the use of 'self as researcher under this epistemological umbrella. This is followed by an exploration of 'chaos theory' and its application to social systems. And finally, I consider the usefulness of this theory in constructing meanings for loss experiences on various systemic levels within my own family system.
Psychology
M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

The study examined and explored the psychological significance of shaving hair as a ritual during mourning within the Ndebele culture in Mamelodi, Pretoria. The focus was on rituals performed or conducted during the mourning process that will be useful in an attempt to reach a state of healing and restoration. The study explored what meaning the participants attach to the rituals. Through this exploration; a deeper understanding of the value of rituals was developed. The qualitative research method, particularly Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used. Snowball sampling was used to identify participants who had lost their loved and who had gone through mourning for more than six months. In total, ten participants were interviewed for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the mother tongue of the participants in order to allow them to express themselves in the most ultimate way they know and understand. Thematic content analysis was used to extract themes that were dominant across participants. The study was useful as it could be incorporated into the study of psychology specifically from the African epistemological standpoint. Even though the rituals might be practiced amongst the black African community, there is not much literature that focuses mainly on the specific rituals and their significance. This study could also be useful in terms of exposing this knowledge to persons who might not be exposed to this specific ritual of shaving hair due to cultural differences.
Psychology
M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

African widows experience physical, emotional and spiritual traumas induced by cultural/psycho-social factors, which are further exacerbated by environmental and socioeconomic determinants. These circumstances make both the mourning process and its aftermath - coping with life after the death of their spouses - extremely difficult. Oppressive cultural practices and perceptions can aggravate or intensify the suffering for many of these women. Certain rituals expose women to possible HIV infection, and in the case of Christian widows, are also incompatible with their faith. Compounding this is the cultural stigma attached to widowhood, and the added possibility of the AIDS stigma whether or not her husband did indeed die of HIV and AIDS. This dissertation examines the experiences of Christian widows from multicultural and multi ethnic backgrounds and proposes the way in which the Church can respond, given a context of African cultural practices and HIV prevention initiatives. It responds to the question of the implications of the transition into and the state of widowhood in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia. This is a church operating in an environment where African cultural practices are esteemed, and some widowhood cultural practices have turned out to be risky in a context of HIV and AIDS. Chapter 1 introduces the study giving the background to and motivation for the study. It discuses the feminization of HIV and AIDS in Zambia, and that situation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia which gave the impetus to undertake the study. It also elaborates on the methodology used to conduct this research. Chapter 2 reviews the literature on related research that has already been done on widowhood, showing the reason to study a subject that has received so much attention. It also shows how strands of African Christianity have contextualized the gospel in Africa. Chapter 3 describes Lutheran theology on widowhood and the theology that Lutheranism has developed from Luther's views on widowhood. Chapter 4 describes the methods used in collecting data from the sampled interviewees and informants. Chapter 5 presents the results of the research and these are interpreted in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 presents a proposed Christianized cleansing ritual, giving justification and the procedure for the ritual.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

The research is about African women living with HIV and women grieving the death of loved ones as a result of AIDS. We discuss the women's preferred care for the ill person and for the family as well as for the bereaved family. We consider together the effects of HIV/AIDS in the community: the stigma attached to the disease and the fears of people that they may contract HIV. The women and I acknowledge the closely woven relationships between faith and culture in a predominantly Xhosa community. Participatory action research is used and contextual feminist theology within a postmodern social construction approach to narrative pastoral therapy.
Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology
M.Th. (Practical Theology)