Department of Psychology, School of Education, Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.
Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2024;15(1):2418767. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2418767. Epub 2024 Nov 1.
Chinese bereaved parents over the age of 49 who have lost their only child are known as shidu parents. This study aimed to explore their symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and post-traumatic growth (PTG). Shidu parents who experienced the loss of their only child at least six months prior and had no biological or adopted children at the time of the study were recruited. Eleven shidu parents participated in individual interviews conducted in Mandarin via WeChat video or voice calls. The interview guide was developed by the first researcher and refined through discussions with doctoral students and a professor specializing in bereavement. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data from the semi-structured interviews. The interviewees (3 men and 8 women) were aged between 53 and 72 years, and the time since their child's loss ranged from 2.25 to 24 years. Four themes of PGD symptoms were identified: Separation distress, Cognitive, emotional, and behavioural symptoms, Somatic responses and Changes in grief responses. Subtheme of 'feelings of inferiority or shame' and 'somatic responses' were prominent among this group, potentially representing culturally relevant grief reactions. They also experienced genuine PTG that helped them adapt to life without the child: changes in self-perception, changes in interpersonal relationships, and a changed philosophy of life. The subtheme of 'living for self' emerged as a potentially unique PTG among shidu parents. Shidu parents share some important similarities with bereaved individuals across cultures, but also exhibit some unique characteristics. Considering their persistent intense grief, regular screening for grief severity, physical issues, and suicidal ideation is essential. Culturally sensitive interventions that acknowledge and validate their sense of inferiority or shame may be beneficial. Additionally, fostering PTG may support shidu parents in coping with their loss and adapting to life.
中国失独父母是指年龄超过 49 岁、失去唯一子女的父母。本研究旨在探讨他们的持续性哀伤障碍（PGD）和创伤后成长（PTG）症状。研究招募了至少在六个月前经历过唯一子女丧失、且在研究时没有亲生或收养子女的失独父母。11 位失独父母通过微信视频或语音通话参与了普通话的个人访谈。访谈指南由第一研究员制定，并通过与博士生和专门研究丧亲问题的教授的讨论进行了完善。采用反思性主题分析对半结构化访谈的资料进行分析。受访者（3 男 8 女）年龄在 53 至 72 岁之间，孩子去世时间从 2.25 年到 24 年不等。确定了四个 PGD 症状主题：分离痛苦、认知、情感和行为症状、躯体反应和悲伤反应的变化。“自卑感或羞耻感”和“躯体反应”这两个亚主题在这群人中很突出，可能代表了具有文化相关性的悲伤反应。他们也经历了真正的 PTG，帮助他们适应没有孩子的生活：自我认知的改变、人际关系的改变和人生观的改变。“为自己而活”这个亚主题作为失独父母的一种潜在独特的 PTG 出现。失独父母与跨文化的丧亲个体有一些重要的相似之处，但也表现出一些独特的特征。考虑到他们持续的强烈悲伤，定期筛查悲伤严重程度、身体问题和自杀意念至关重要。承认和验证他们自卑感或羞耻感的文化敏感干预可能是有益的。此外，培养 PTG 可能有助于失独父母应对失去孩子和适应生活。
