The Experiences of People whose Partners have taken their own Lives: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Abstract
Rationale and Aims: Grief research has highlighted the difficult reactions
experienced by people bereaved by suicide, with studies also looking at the
importance of sense and meaning making. There is limited research looking at
experiences of individual kinships, for example partners of people who have
taken their own lives. The current study therefore aimed to gain an in-depth
understanding of the experiences of people who have lost a partner to suicide,
using a qualitative approach. The research sought to explore the following:What
are the experiences of people whose partners have taken their own lives and how
do people experience trying to make sense and meaning of their partner’s death?
Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with seven participants (two
men) who had lost their partner to suicide more than two years previously.
Verbatim transcripts of the interviews were then analysed using Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
Results: The analysis produced four master themes, including: “Pervasive impact
of loss – “oh god, its such a disaster”; “The search for understanding – “There are
so many questions that are unanswerable, like ‘why’?”; Challenges and ways of
coping – “All the challenges they just come daily, hourly, minute by minute”; and,
“Looking to the future – Its been a turning point for me, and a catalyst for change”.
A description of these master themes and the related subordinate themes is
presented.
Conclusion: The results of the analysis are considered in light of existing theory
and their clinical implications.
Publication date
2011-10-31Published version
https://doi.org/10.18745/th.11065https://doi.org/10.18745/th.11065