ERIC Number: EJ1373486
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Apr
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1541-3446
EISSN: EISSN-1552-7840
Available Date: N/A
Black and Blue Butterflies: The Transformative Journeys of Mothers Who Lost a Child to Suicide
Whalen, Gina C.; Tisdell, Elizabeth J.
Journal of Transformative Education, v21 n2 p207-224 Apr 2023
The purpose of this study is to understand the experience of mothers who lost a child to suicide, and how they have learned to cope with their devastating loss. The study is grounded in transformative learning (TL) theory; the study design combined narrative inquiry and the first author's autoethnographic experience. Data collection consisted of two sets of semi-structured interviews with each of the participants, and narrative analysis combined with thematic analysis revealed five interrelated themes regarding how the mothers learned to cope and move forward after their loss: experiencing distress, trying to make sense, making use of meaningful sources of comfort, taking action, and deepening reflection through metaphor and autoethnographic sharing. A concluding discussion offers implications for TL theory around extremely emotional events and the changing circumstances brought on by suicide loss.
Descriptors: Mothers, Suicide, Children, Coping, Parent Attitudes, Stress Variables, Reflection, Figurative Language, Autobiographies, Transformative Learning, Grief, Psychological Patterns, Social Support Groups
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A