The experience of living with traumatic bereavement: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

This dissertation explores the lived experience of traumatic bereavement in adults between the ages of 21 and 50. The term traumatic bereavement refers to a specific type of bereavement where the loss is unexpected (without forewarning), untimely, and often (but not always) associated with horrific or frightening circumstances. The study sought to identify common existential themes underlying the experience, and therefore did not restrict itself to investigating a particular mode of death. A total of 7 traumatically bereaved individuals (6 females and 1 male) were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, and the data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 1999). Three superordinate themes were identified. The first theme pertained to traumatic bereavement having a holistic impact on lived experience, the second to traumatic bereavement leading to a grappling with meaning, and the third, traumatic bereavement having a significant relational component. Participants are seen to experience a transformation that transcends post traumatic growth. Findings are discussed in light of existing literature and are framed by existential thought. Given the emerging importance of meaning-making, a meaning-making model specific to traumatic bereavement is proposed. Finally, this dissertation makes suggestions for a clinical approach to working with traumatically bereaved adults.