Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, China.
The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2023 Dec;18(1):2153424. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2022.2153424.
This qualitative study aimed to gather insights into the experiences of older adults after losing their only child and explore meaningful life needs as a basis for social interventions.
We conducted individual face-to-face interviews with 29 participants from 10 communities in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using the inductive category development of conventional content analysis.
The experience of losing an only child was devastating and linked with a helpless life in old age. The analysis generated the following three themes encompassing their lived experiences and needs: afraid of getting sick, lying on the edge of misery and surrounded by loneliness.
Losing an only child triggered older adults' feelings of being misunderstood, disconnected and hopeless. They had an increased likelihood of lacking more on love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization needs than their physiologic and safety needs. Findings from our study will raise awareness on this vulnerable group and help design intervention programmes targeting the specific needs of this neglected segment of the population.
本定性研究旨在深入了解失去独生子的老年人的体验，并探讨有意义的生活需求，以此作为社会干预的基础。
我们对来自中国湖南省长沙市 10 个社区的 29 名参与者进行了个人面对面访谈。访谈内容逐字转录，然后使用传统内容分析的归纳类别发展进行分析。
失去独生子的经历是毁灭性的，与老年时无助的生活有关。分析产生了以下三个主题，涵盖了他们的生活体验和需求：害怕生病、处于苦难的边缘和孤独环绕。
失去独生子引发了老年人被误解、脱节和绝望的感觉。他们在爱和归属感、尊重和自我实现需求方面比生理和安全需求更有可能缺乏更多的需求。我们研究的结果将提高对这一弱势群体的认识，并有助于设计针对这一被忽视人群特定需求的干预计划。
