Spiritual experiences of continuity and discontinuity among parents who lose a child

R.R. Ganzevoort, N. Falkenburg

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    Abstract

    This is a study of parents' spiritual experience of the loss of a child. Many parents experience continuing bonds with their deceased child as well as forms of posttraumatic growth. Twelve parents of children dying after severe illness were interviewed about their experiences. The interviews contain stories about premonitions, the intensity of the moment of the child's death and the child's presence after death. Thematically the stories reflect the dialectics of continuity and discontinuity in the relationship with the child. This is interpreted in terms of attributing meaning, significance and comprehensibility. © 2012 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
    Original languageDutch
    Pages (from-to)189-204
    JournalJournal of Empirical Theology : JET
    Volume25
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

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