Grieving the loss of parents: A qualitative study of bereaved adult children who received professional support.

Abstract

This study examined the bereavement experiences of adult children in Hong Kong. Fifteen participants who were receiving bereavement counseling services were recruited from an organization. In-depth interviews were conducted, and reflexive thematic analysis was applied. Findings highlight their difficulties in adjusting to parental loss, even when parents died in old age. Making sense of the loss was hindered by sudden changes in parents' health and by negative experiences in end-of-life care. Due to their unique relationships with their older parents, participants faced significant secondary losses in addition to the primary loss of death. They reported feelings of loneliness, isolation, and struggles with changed family roles and responsibilities. These findings enhance our understanding of bereaved adult children's grief and provide insights into ways bereavement support can be offered.