Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Omega (Westport). 2011;63(4):343-58. doi: 10.2190/OM.63.4.c.
The aim of this study was to identify and describe resilience qualities in families after losing a child. Questionnaires, including an open-ended question, were utilized to collect data independently from the parents and siblings of the deceased in 89 Belgian families. The results indicate that family strengths in general, and commitment to the family in particular, helped the families' adaptation after the loss. In addition, the adaptation process after the loss was aided if the family members viewed the crisis as a challenge. Both the siblings and the parents indicated that the extent to which a family experienced support from the community was directly related to family adaptation after the loss. Redefining the situation and utilizing social support from friends and family were underlined as effective family coping strategies. The findings could be used in interventions to promote family resilience, thereby affirming the reparative potential of families.
本研究旨在识别和描述失去孩子后的家庭的适应能力特质。研究采用问卷，包括一个开放式问题，分别从 89 个比利时家庭中失去孩子的父母和兄弟姐妹处收集数据。结果表明，家庭的普遍优势，特别是对家庭的承诺，有助于家庭在失去孩子后的适应。此外，如果家庭成员将危机视为挑战，那么家庭在失去孩子后的适应过程将得到帮助。兄弟姐妹和父母都表示，家庭从社区获得支持的程度与失去孩子后的家庭适应直接相关。重新定义情况并利用来自朋友和家人的社会支持被强调为有效的家庭应对策略。这些发现可以用于促进家庭适应能力的干预措施，从而肯定家庭的修复潜力。
