2 / 22
E u r o S c i C o n C o n f e r e n c e o n
PEDIATRICS
2017
Pediatrics 2017
Volume:3 Issue:4(Suppl)
Journal of Pediatric Care
ISSN 2471-805X
N o v e m b e r 1 3 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 7
L o n d o n , U K
Page 28
T
he aims of the study were to give a voice to adult
daughters who had been maternally bereaved between
the age of birth and eleven years old and to explore how the
loss had impacted on their lives. Twenty-six participants aged
between 25 and 77 (mean age was 32) were interviewed:
Nineteen from the North of Ireland and 7 from the Republic
of Ireland. The recruitment of participants was carried out in
two phases: initially three were recruited through University
of Ulster e-mailing network and snowballing for a small Pilot
Study. Approximately nine months later, a further twenty-
three interviewees were recruited through requests for
participants that were disseminated through newspapers
and radio interviews. The semi-structured interviews were
recorded, transcribed and analysed in line with the procedures
of Grounded Theory. Verification of the findings was achieved
through written feedback and focus group. The core concept
identified, ‘Perpetual Loss and Pervasive Grief’, encapsulated
the profound and deeply felt repercussions of the early loss
of a mother. Daughters` experiences were influenced by
family relationships and the circumstances within which
they were reared. Loss and grief permeated their lives and
impacted on many aspects of their psychological health and
well-being as they grappled with life events and transitions. A
The psychological
impact of the early
loss of a mother on
the health and well-
being of daughters
Anne Tracey
Ulster University, Magee campus
Northern Ireland
variety of coping mechanisms helped daughters to deal with the
loss as their lives unfolded. Given that, until the present, early
childhood loss has received little attention in Ireland, the insights
gained could help to inform and enlighten those with a personal
history of early loss, families, communities, educationalists and
employers and the medical and therapeutic professions who
offer help and support to those bereaved early in life. Ethical
considerations are paramount to research of this nature both
initially in planning the study. Throughout its duration, vigilance
is critical for the maintenance of ethical standards.
ap.tracey@ulster.ac.ukJ Pediatr Care 2017, 3:4(Suppl)
DOI: 10.21767/2471-805X-C1-003