East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China.
J Appl Gerontol. 2022 Jan;41(1):134-141. doi: 10.1177/0733464820978808. Epub 2020 Dec 17.
Losing an only child affects the mental health of many older adults in China, placing them at a higher risk of loneliness. However, few studies explore the long-term effects of losing an only child on loneliness trajectories among older Chinese bereaved parents. Adopting a qualitative, grounded theory approach, this study investigates how experiences of loneliness among bereaved parents evolve and the implications for staged intervention. Twenty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted with people who lost their only child in Shanghai and Wuhan. A multistep data analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The findings indicate that trajectories of perceived loneliness have three distinct stages and follow a U-shape in their frequency and intensity. Interventions of psychological consultation, social network restoration, and improved old-age support should be emphasized at each stage.
失去独生子会影响中国许多老年人的心理健康，使他们更容易感到孤独。然而，很少有研究探讨失去独生子对中国丧亲父母孤独轨迹的长期影响。本研究采用定性、扎根理论方法，探讨了丧亲父母的孤独感如何演变，以及对阶段性干预的意义。在上海和武汉，对 27 名失去独生子的人进行了 27 次深入访谈。采用多步数据分析技术对数据进行分析。研究结果表明，孤独感的轨迹有三个明显的阶段，其频率和强度呈 U 型。在每个阶段都应强调心理咨询、社会网络恢复和改善老年支持的干预措施。
