Abstract

GONZAGA, Ludymilla Zacarias Martins  and  PERES, Rodrigo Sanches. Between the concrete rupture and the symbolic maintenance of bonding: particularities of grief for family caregivers of patients with chronic-degenerative diseases. Vínculo [online]. 2012, vol.9, n.1, pp.10-17. ISSN 1806-2490.

Grief in family caregivers of patients with chronic-degenerative diseases who died after receiving prolonged home care may present important particularities. This study’s objective was to analyze the oscillation between loss-oriented coping and restoration-oriented coping in this population. The participants were six family caregivers of six different patients. Semi-structured interviews were held individually to collect data. Thematic content analysis and the Dual Process Model guided data analysis. We verified that both before and after their loss, the participants were inclined to loss-oriented coping at the expense of restoration-oriented coping. Therefore, they faced marked difficulties in undertaking oscillation, an essential movement to consolidate grief. Such difficulties seem to be associated with an experience of loss that results from a "announced death", especially because it followed long-term care.

Keywords : Grief; Caregivers; Family; Attitude to death; Mental health.

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