the lived experience of untimely spousal bereavement

135 Pages·2005·0.61 MB·English

by  Liz Carpenter

THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF UNTIMELY SPOUSAL BEREAVEMENT

A Thesis Submitted to the
College of Graduate Studies and Research
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Master of Nursing
in the College of Nursing
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

By
Marilee E. Lowe, RN, B.Sc.N.

©Copyright Marilee E. Lowe, June, 2005. All rights reserved.
PERMISSION TO USE
This thesis is presented as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
Master of Nursing from the University of Saskatchewan. I agree that the Libraries of the
University of Saskatchewan may make this document freely available for inspection.
Photocopy of this thesis, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes, may be granted by
the professor or professors who supervised my thesis work, or in their absence, by the
head of the department, the Dean of the College of Nursing. It is understood that the
photocopying of this thesis, in whole or in part, for financial gain shall not be allowed
without my written permission. It is also understood that recognition will be given to me
and the University of Saskatchewan for any scholarly use that is made of any of the
material in my thesis.
Requests for permission to copy or make other use of the material in this thesis, in
whole or in part, should be addressed to:
Dean of the College of Nursing
University of Saskatchewan
107 Wiggins Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5E5.

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ABSTRACT
The death of a spouse is one of the most profound and life-altering events adults
will ever experience. While the experience of spousal bereavement is traumatic at any
time, there is evidence to support the fact that young women who are widowed
experience unique challenges. The purpose of studying young widows was to understand
the meaning of spousal bereavement for individual participants. The research tradition of
phenomenology was chosen to inform the study, and the guiding question became “what
is the lived experience of spousal bereavement for young women?”
The study participants were five women who were under the age of 45 at the time
of their husband’s death. The experiences of these young widows were illuminated
through stories and reflections on the journey of a young widow. Five themes emerged
from their experiences. Young widows grieve both the loss of a companion and the death
of their dreams. Accompanying these losses can be the challenges of single parenthood,
the need for career, financial and lifestyle changes, and the readjustment to life as a single
adult. Increased understanding from the perspective of the bereaved widow, along with
strategies and interventions for nurses working with this group of women, will provide
nurses and health care professionals with skills to better assist this client population.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To accomplish the goal of completion of my Master of Nursing Degree, I owe a
debt of gratitude to many people. To the five courageous women who opened their hearts
and their lives to share their stories of widowhood with me – Thank You.
To my thesis supervisor, Dr. Karen Wright, who went far “above and beyond the
call of duty” in her support of both my completion of this thesis and my personal growth
during the process – Thank You. To my committee members, Dr. Wendy Duggleby and
Dr.Muriel Montbriand, who provided invaluable feedback and suggestions along the way
– Thank You. To the College of Nursing for financial support through bursaries,
scholarships, and a graduate teaching fellowship – Thank You.
To my Tuesday night quilting group – Lani, Marie, and Holly, for your listening
ears and for encouraging me in the pursuit of this dream – Thank You. To my children,
Emily and Eric, who have traveled this journey with me from the beginning; Your Dad
would be as proud of you as I am for the ways in which you have grown and matured
through the experiences that have shaped your lives. You are both such a blessing and
encouragement to me - Thank you.
To my very special friend Marlene, whose friendship I have treasured for so many
years. Without your love and support as I journeyed through the darkness of my early
days as a widow I would not be the person I am today – Thank You.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PERMISSION TO USE ……………………………………………………. i

ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………….. ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………….. iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………. iv

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION ………………………………. 1

1.1 Significance and relevance of the study ……………... 1

1.2 Purpose of the study ………………………………….. 2

CHAPTER TWO - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ……………… 4

2.1 Bereavement, grief and mourning …………………………. 4

2.2 Anticipatory grief ………………………………………… 6

2.3 Sudden death ……………………………………………… 8

2.4 Women and widowhood ………………………………………. 9

2.5 Influence of age ……………………………………………… 12

CHAPTER THREE - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY …………………… 15

3.1 Research design ……………………………………………… 15

3.2 Participant selection …………………………………………… 18

3.3 Data collection ………………………………………………… 20

3.4 Ethical considerations ………………………………………… 21

3.5 Researcher as instrument ……………………………………… 22

3.6 Data analysis ………………………………………………… 25

3.7 Trustworthiness ………………………………………………… 27
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3.7.1 Credibility ………………………………………………… 27

3.7.2 Transferability ………………………………………… 27

3.7.3 Dependability ………………………………………… 28

3.7.4 Confirmability …………………………………………… 28

CHAPTER FOUR - THE THEMES OF YOUNG WIDOWHOOD ………….. 29

4.1 Introduction to study participants
* Pseudonyms have been used here …………………………. 29

4.1.1 Laura …………………………………………………… 29

4.1.2 Catherine ……………………………………………… 30

4.1.3 Jessica …………………………………………………… 30

4.1.4 Wendy ………………………………………………………. 30

4.1.5 Patti ……………………………………………………… 31

4.2 Presentation of the themes ……………………………………… 31

4.2.1 Losses …………………………………………………… 31

4.2.1.1 Loss of companionship …………………………… 31

4.2.1.2 Loss of hopes and dreams ………………………… 32

4.2.1.3 Losses in family relationships and activities ……… 32

4.2.2 Who am I? …………………………………………………. 35

4.2.2.1 Single again ……………………………………… 35

4.2.2.2 New relationships with men ……………………… 38

4.2.2.3 Changed relationships with friends ………………… 41

4.2.2.4 Single parenting …………………………………... 44

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4.2.3 Making Connections through Memories …………………… 50

4.2.3.1 Strategies for memory making ……………………… 50

4.2.3.2 Reflections on caregiving ………………………….. 55

4.2.4 Living through the firsts ……………………………………. 62

4.2.4.1 Initial adjustments …………………………………… 62

4.2.4.2 New responsibilities ………………………………… 68

4.2.5 Support Systems …………………………………………….. 71

4.2.5.1 Support of the family ………………………………… 71

4.2.5.2 Support of friends ……………………………………. 73

4.2.5.3 Spiritual support ……………………………………... 77
.
4.2.5.4 Support groups ………………………………………. 80

4.2.5.5 The health care system ………………………………. 82

4.3 Summary …………………………………………………………….. 90

CHAPTER FIVE – AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY: REFLECTIONS OF THE
RESEARCHER ………………………………… 96

5.1 The themes of untimely spousal bereavement in my life ……………. 97

5.1.1 Losses ………………………………………………………… 97

5.1.2 Who am I? …………………………………………………… 97

5.1.3 Making connections through memories …………………….. 99

5.1.4 Living through the firsts …………………………………….. 100

5.1.5 Support systems …………………………………………….. 101

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CHAPTER SIX – INTEGRATION ………………………………………. 104

6.1 Implications ………………………………………………… 106

6.1.1 Research implications ……………………………… 106

6.1.2 Nursing practice implications ……………………… 109

6.1.3 Education implications ……………………………. . 110

6.1.4 Factors influencing the study ………………………… 110

REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………… 114

APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………… 122

Appendix A Consent Form ……………………………………... 122

Appendix B Participant Data/Transcript Release Form ……… 124

Appendix C Demographic Information ………………………….. 126

Appendix D Guiding Questions for Interview …………………… 127

Appendix E Ethics Approval …………………………………... 128

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CHAPTER ONE ‐ INTRODUCTION 
The death of a spouse is one of the most profound and life-altering events adults
will ever experience. While the loss of a spouse is traumatic at any time, the experience
of spousal bereavement at a young age brings with it unique challenges. Young widows
grieve not only the physical loss of a companion but also the loss of dreams and
expectations, the loss of what might have been. The challenges facing young widows
have not been well addressed in the literature. Widows of any age have been found to
experience adverse health effects (Charlton, Sheahan, Smith, & Campbell, 2001; Parkes
& Brown, 1972), as well as financial insecurities, and raising children alone (Staudacher,
1987). Young widows have been identified as experiencing depression (Blanchard,
Blanchard, & Becker, 1976; Zisook & Schuchter, 1991), more severe grief reactions
(Ball, 1977), and lower morale as compared to older widows (Morgan, 1976). According
to Stroebe and Stroebe (1987), young widows have more difficulty with the initial
adjustment to their loss and may experience a greater degree of emotional suffering than
women who are widowed later in life.
1.1 Significance and relevance of the study
My personal experience of spousal bereavement has allowed me to identify that
both understanding of, and support for, the young widow is not well developed. The
literature on the young widow is very limited and there have been no reported studies
completed in Canada. Additionally, a number of the references on young widowhood are
dated and may not provide a current perspective on the issue.
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Statistics Canada data for the 2001 census identified that Saskatchewan has
47,810 widows, with 8,810 living in the Saskatoon area (Statistics Canada, 2001). While
it is not possible to identify from this data the proportion of these women who are under
age 45, even if the number is small there is merit in investigating and increasing
knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon of young widowhood.
Nurses are expected to provide holistic care and to demonstrate understanding and
empathy for clients; therefore, knowledge of the lived experience for these individuals is
invaluable (Swanson-Kauffman & Schonwald, 1988). Increased understanding of the
phenomenon of untimely spousal bereavement from the perspective of the bereaved
spouse will prepare nurses to better assist this client population.
1.2 Purpose of the study
The purpose of studying the experience of young widows was to explore the
“lived experience” of spousal bereavement. Specifically, the purpose was to identify and
understand the meaning of spousal bereavement for individual participants. The study
was guided by the question “What is the lived experience of young widowhood”?
Patton (2002) explains that a phenomenological study is “one that focuses on descriptions
of what people experience and how it is that they experience what they experience” (p.
106). Furthermore, Patton explains that “phenomenology assumes that there is an essence
or essences to shared experience” (p. 106). Van Manen (1990) describes essence as “the
very nature of a phenomenon, that which makes a some ‘thing’ what it is – and without
which it could not be what it is” (p. 10). Therefore, this study attempted to uncover the
essence of untimely spousal bereavement. This was accomplished by focusing on the
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