Exploring Factors That Helped Adolescents Adjust and Continue With Life After the Death of a Parent

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore factors that helped adolescents to adjust and continue with life after the death of a parent. A qualitative research design was utilized, in which 12 participants participated in semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed according to thematic analysis. The following categories and themes emerged from the data: family support—supportive remaining parent, parent has a supportive partner and supportive extended family; social support—child has supportive friends and supportive community; religion––religion as a coping mechanism and religion as means of communicating with the deceased parent; and a strong personal sense of coherence (the ability to relate to and make sense of the world) as an intrapersonal coping mechanism. In addition, the following themes also emerged: exercising, allowing time to prepare for the death of a terminally ill parent, tangible reminders of the deceased, and journal writing. The findings can be used to design interventions for adolescents whose parent has passed away.