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Teenagers' reasoning about a parent's recent death in cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2015

Josefin Sveen ,
Ulrika Kreicbergs ,
Ulrica Melcher  and
Anette Alvariza
Josefin Sveen*
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden
Ulrika Kreicbergs
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Women's and Children's Health, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Ulrica Melcher
Affiliation:
Ersta Hospice Clinic, Stockholm, Sweden
Anette Alvariza
Affiliation:
Palliative Research Centre and Department of Health Care Sciences, Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm, Sweden Capio Palliative Care Unit, Dalen Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Nursing, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Josefin Sveen, Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College, P.O. Box 111 89, 100 61 Stockholm, Sweden. E-Mail: Josefin.Sveen@esh.se.
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Abstract

Objective:

The aim of the study was to explore how teenagers reason about a parent's recent death and about their life without that parent.

Method:

A total of 10 teenagers (aged 14–19 years, 7 boys and 3 girls) were interviewed twice, 3–12 months after their parent's death. The interviews were carried out individually and as free-ranging conversations. A content analysis with a descriptive and interpretive design was conducted.

Results:

Importantly, all teenagers appreciated participating in the interviews. Some had not previously talked in such depth about this with anyone, while others had more open communications within their families and with others. Their parent's death was the worst thing that could happen, but they still expressed the feeling that it had been a relief for both the ill parent and themselves. The death had relieved the parent from suffering and a life with severe illness. Many of the teenagers empathized with the surviving parent's grief and worried about him or her as well as the entire home situation. As a consequence, the teenagers did not show their grief, as they did not want to burden the grieving parent. Seeing the parent grieving could lead to feelings of loneliness and hopelessness and that the support they needed was not there for them. Nevertheless, some teenagers could grieve together with the surviving parent in common understanding and with openness.

Significance of Results:

A tentative conclusion is that the teenagers who were more likely to talk and grieve together with their surviving parent coped better with their situation than teenagers who did not. Parentally bereaved teenagers tend to take on a responsibility to support the grieving parent, when it is they themselves who need and should receive support.

Keywords

TeenagersCancerDyingParentPalliative careQualitative
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 349 - 357
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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