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Widow and Bereaved Mother Relations After Loss of Husband or Son: A Double Perspective
Author(s) -
Segev Einav,
Regev Irit,
Hochman Yael,
Zafrany Yaffa,
Sherfi Yaffa,
Elkayam Ayelet
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/fare.12441
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , intervention (counseling) , daughter , psychology , thematic analysis , developmental psychology , social psychology , perception , centrality , grief , qualitative research , sociology , psychiatry , social science , mathematics , combinatorics , evolutionary biology , neuroscience , computer science , biology , artificial intelligence
Objective To explore the perception of the relationships between widows and bereaved mothers after the loss of their husband or son from a double perspective. Background Despite the centrality of the husband and son in making the connection between the mother‐in‐law and the daughter‐in‐law, there are almost no studies on the implications of the absence of the husband and son, after he is deceased, on this relationship. Method Twenty semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 widows and 10 bereaved mothers who were recruited by convenience sample. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results The findings indicate complex relationships between widows and bereaved mothers. Some factors, such as a history of good relations, helped bolster the relationship, but others such as guilt, blaming, and obstructing actors, thwarted it. Conclusion The complexity of the relationship between widows and bereaved mothers after loss points to the importance of assessing their relationship close to the loss, as well as of direct intervention in the relationship, to prevent the development and escalation of conflicts between the women. Implications Systemic professional intervention is suggested as a means for improving relations between widows and bereaved mothers.