How Adults With an Intellectual Disability Experience Bereavement and Grief: A Qualitative Exploration
Open Access
- 22 August 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Death Studies
- Vol. 38 (3), 179-185
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2012.738772
Abstract
This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of bereavement of 13 adults with an intellectual disability and found that their experiences could be situated within the concept of disenfranchised grief. The latter mediated participants' meaning making of the grieving process illustrated in the themes of intra- and interpersonal bereavement experiences, core beliefs about life and death, level of inclusion, and maintaining a continuing relationship with the deceased. The results suggest that participants experience bereavement and grief in a manner similar to that of the general population and suggest the need for open communication, facilitation of informed choice, and a culture of inclusion.Keywords
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