Manoogian Margaret M, Vandenbroeke Juliana, Ringering Amy, Toray Tamina, Cooley Eric
1 Department of Gerontology, Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, USA.
2 Department of Psychological Sciences, Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR, USA.
Omega (Westport). 2018 Mar;76(4):351-372. doi: 10.1177/0030222817693140. Epub 2017 Feb 15.
This qualitative study examined the experience of grandparent death among 74 emerging adults enrolled in college. Guided by the life course perspective, the authors specifically explored (a) participant responses to the death, (b) how family systems were influenced by the loss of the grandparent, and (c) how grandparent death motivated life course transitions for emerging adults. The findings suggest that the death trajectory, level of attachment, the role the grandchild played in the family, as well as the coping style utilized affected participants' grief processes. This study underscores the importance of the grandchild-grandparent tie, how new death experiences create meaning and ritual, and how life course transitions are motivated when an older family member dies. Implications for providing support on college campuses when emerging adults experience grandparent death are highlighted.
这项定性研究调查了74名在读大学生这一新兴成年人群体中祖父母离世的经历。在生命历程视角的指引下，作者具体探究了：（a）参与者对死亡的反应；（b）家庭系统如何受到祖父母离世的影响；以及（c）祖父母的死亡如何促使新兴成年人的生命历程发生转变。研究结果表明，死亡轨迹、依恋程度、孙辈在家庭中所扮演的角色以及所采用的应对方式，都会影响参与者的悲伤过程。本研究强调了祖孙关系的重要性、新的死亡经历如何创造意义和仪式，以及当一位年长的家庭成员去世时，生命历程的转变是如何被激发的。文中还强调了在新兴成年人经历祖父母离世时，在大学校园提供支持的意义。
