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Enduring to Gain New Perspective: A Grounded Theory Study of the Experience of Perinatal Bereavement in Black Adolescents
Author(s) -
Fenstermacher Kimberly H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.21583
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , grounded theory , psychology , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , sociology , qualitative research , social science , artificial intelligence , computer science
Black adolescents in the US experience perinatal loss at a higher rate than other races and ethnicities. The experience of eight Black urban adolescents through the first 3 months after perinatal loss was studied using grounded theory. The process of “enduring to gain new perspective” began with “denying and hesitating” when surprised by unplanned pregnancy but led to “getting ready for this whole new life,” followed by shock of “suffering through the loss,” “all that pain for nothing,” and “mixed emotions going everywhere.” Over time, the adolescents began “reaching out for support” and eventually “preserving the memory and maintaining relationship,” “searching for meaning and asking why,” and “gaining new perspective on life.” Parallels are noted to extant bereavement theory. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.