Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-fnpn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-28T13:47:21.040Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Changes experienced by and the future values of bereaved family members determined using narratives from bereavement life review therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2013

Michiyo Ando ,
Yukihiro Sakaguchi ,
Yasufumi Shiihara  and
Kumi Izuhara
Michiyo Ando*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, St. Mary's College, Fukuoka, Japan
Yukihiro Sakaguchi
Affiliation:
School of Human Welfare Studies, Kwansai Gakuin University, Osaka, Japan
Yasufumi Shiihara
Affiliation:
Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Japan
Kumi Izuhara
Affiliation:
Customer Service Department, Koekisha Co. Ltd., Osaka Head Office, Osaka, Japan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Michiyo Ando, St. Mary's College, Tsubukuhonmachi 422, Kurume City, Fukuoka, Japan. E-mail: andou@st-mary.ac.jp
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

The goals of this study were to investigate the changes experienced by bereaved family members in Japan and to determine what activities they would value in the future based on narratives from a bereavement life review, which is a type of psychotherapy used to treat depression and promote spiritual well-being.

Methods:

The participants were 20 bereaved Japanese family members who underwent two sessions of bereavement life review over a period of two weeks.

Results:

Using qualitative analysis, we identified four areas of changes (“learning from the deceased's death and self-growth,” “healing process,” “relating with others,” “relating with society,” and “performing new family roles”) and five categories of valued activities (“continuing grief work,” “living with a philosophy,” “attaining life roles,” “keeping good human relationships,” and “enjoying life”).

Significance of results:

“Learning from the deceased's death and self-growth” and “relating with others” are common in Japan and Western countries, whereas “relating with society,” “healing process,” and “performing new family roles” are more characteristic of Japan. The strength of bonding with the deceased may influence the values of bereaved family members. We concluded that bereavement life review therapy can contribute positively to their grief work.

Keywords

Bereaved familyChangesValuesBereavement life review
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , February 2015 , pp. 59 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Ando, M., Morita, T., Miyashita, M., et al. (2010). Effects of bereavement life review on spiritual well-being and depression. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 40, 453–459.Google Scholar
Ando, M., Morita, T., Akechi, T., et al. (2012). Factors in narratives to questions in the short-term life review interviews of terminally ill cancer patients and utility of the questions. Palliative and Supportive Care, 1–8.Google ScholarPubMed
Ando, M., Sakaguchi, H. & Shiihara, Y. (2013). Universality of bereavement life review for spirituality and depression in bereaved families. American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care. Epub ahead of print May 14, 2013.Google ScholarPubMed
Berelson, B. (1952). Content analysis in communication research. Glencoe, IL: Free Press.Google Scholar
Bonanno, G.A. & Kaltman, S. (1999). Toward an integrative perspective on bereavement. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 760–786.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss, Vol. 3. Loss: Sadness and depression. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Burnell, G.M. & Burnell, A.L. (1989). Clinical management of bereavement: A handbook for healthcare professionals. New York: Human Sciences Press.Google Scholar
Currier, J.M., Mallot, J., Martinez, T.E., et al. (2013). Bereavement, religion, and posttraumatic growth: A matched control group investigation. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 5, 69–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dyregrov, K.M., Dieserud, G., Hjelmeland, H.M., et al. (2011). Meaning-making through psychological autopsy interviews: The value of participating in quality research for those bereaved by suicide. Death Studies, 35, 685–710.Google Scholar
Erikson, E. (1950). Childhood and society. New York: W.W. Norton.Google Scholar
Funashima, N. (2001). Challenges in qualitative analysis [in Japanese]. Tokyo: Igakusyoin.Google Scholar
Hanson, R.O. & Stroebe, M.S. (2007). Bereavement in late life: Coping, adaptation, and developmental influences. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Higashimura, N., Sakaguchi, Y., Kashiwagi, T., et al. (2001). Growth of bereaved families through the bereavement experience [in Japanese]. Shino Rinsyo, 24, 69–74.Google Scholar
Kang, J., Shin, D.W., Choi, J.E., et al. (2013). Factors associated with the positive consequences of serving as a family caregiver for terminal cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology, 22, 564–571.Google Scholar
Lehman, D.R., Davis, C.G., Delongis, A.W., et al. (1993). Positive and negative life changes following bereavement and their relations to adjustment. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 12, 90–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Milberg, A., & Strang, P., (2011). Protection against perceptions of powerlessness and helplessness during palliative care: The family members' perspective. Palliative and Supportive Care, 9, 251–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (2013). Retrieved from http://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/kenkou/gan_keikaku.htmlGoogle Scholar
Shear, M.K. (2009). Grief and depression: Treatment decisions for bereaved children and adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 746–748.Google Scholar
Stroebe, M.S. & Schut, H. (2005). To continue or relinquish bonds: A review of consequences for the bereaved. Death Studies, 23, 197–224.Google Scholar
Stroebe, M., Schut, H. & Stroebe, W. (2007). Health outcomes of bereavement. Lancet, 370, 1960–1973.Google Scholar
Tedeschi, R.G. & Calhoun, L.G. (1996). The posttraumatic growth inventory: Measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9, 455–471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tracey, A. (2011). Perpetual loss and pervasive grief. Bereavement Care, 30, 17–24.Google Scholar