Reorganizing Bonds: A Qualitative Exploration of the Bereavement Experiences of the Adult Only-Children Who Lost Their Parent(s)

Background and Purpose:

Losing parents is one of the most traumatic life events, exerting profound effects on the physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of adult children. Despite the extensive literature on bereavement experiences, the unique challenges faced by China's only-child generation following parental loss remain insufficiently explored. Since its implementation in the 1970s, China's one-child policy has shaped a unique generation of individuals who have been raised and grown up under its influence. To date, a significant portion of this population has experienced parental loss. This study seeks to delve into the bereavement experiences of only-child populations who have lost their parent(s) within the past five years.

Methods:

Qualitative methods were employed. Participants were required to be aged 18 or older, have suffered a non-accidental parent loss between 2018 and 2023, and have provided end-of-life care for at least one month. Recruitment flyers were posted on four major social media in China from November 2023 to March 2024. Eligible participants were provided with consent forms. One-on-one interviews were conducted either online through Tencent Meeting or WeChat, or in person. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were analyzed using ATLAS.ti software, applying thematic analysis for qualitative data. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Renmin University of China.

Results:

A total of 15 eligible participants were included in the study. Most of the participants were female (73.3%), with an age range of 21 to 43, and half of them served as the end-of-life caregivers of their fathers (53.3%). From a Continuing Bonds perspective, three phases emerged from data analysis: (1) Deconstructing bonds: feelings of loss, owedness, and loneliness; (2) Reconstructing bonds: connecting with decedents through spiritual rites, memories, and new recognitions; (3) Reorganizing bonds: internalization, maturity, and resilience. In the deconstruction phase, the bereaved only-children described senses of loss, loneliness, and owedness for digesting the disconnections with the deceased. Subsequently, the bereaved only-children reconstructed the connections with the deceased by holding spiritual rites, recalling memories, and gaining new recognition of their parents. For the reorganization phase, participants reported that they inherited their parents’ qualities and found personal growth such as maturity and resilience. These findings illustrate an adaptive process of maintaining connections with deceased parents. Three phases might overlap and be ongoing simultaneously.

Conclusions and Implications:

The study's findings emphasize the need to understand the bereavement experiences of adult only-children through the continuing bonds with their deceased parents and the adaptive process from deconstruction to reorganization. The results contribute to the social work literature and offer insights into the bereavement experiences of the upcoming millions of only-child individuals. Social workers can utilize these insights to provide psychosocial support and foster supportive communities, thereby alleviating loneliness and social isolation during the deconstruction phase and enhancing meaning-making during the reconstruction and reorganization phases.

Keywords: only child, bereavement, parental loss, continuing bonds, China