The Unwed Widow: Unmarried Partnership Loss

Presented byPresented by

Dr. Brenda-Joyce G. Orozco Markert-GreenDr. Brenda-Joyce G. Orozco Markert-Green

Purpose/Goals of the Study

• To identify the needs of women who had To identify the needs of women who had experienced the death of a partner to whom she experienced the death of a partner to whom she was not marriedwas not married

• To examine whether women who experience the To examine whether women who experience the death of a partner to whom she is not married death of a partner to whom she is not married experience disenfranchised griefexperience disenfranchised grief

• To identify what services or program activities To identify what services or program activities could be developed to meet those needscould be developed to meet those needs

Theoretical Conceptual Framework

• Conceptual/Theoretical TriangulationConceptual/Theoretical Triangulation

• Symbolic Interaction TheorySymbolic Interaction Theory

• Social ConstructionismSocial Constructionism

• Narrative TheoryNarrative Theory

• To obtain the most in-depth understanding To obtain the most in-depth understanding of the experiences of the experiences of the of the experiences of the experiences of the participantsparticipants

Symbolic Interaction Theory

• Interactions among people consist in society in Interactions among people consist in society in organized and patterned ways, and that those organized and patterned ways, and that those events contain meanings that are relevant to how events contain meanings that are relevant to how people act and the roles that they are expected to people act and the roles that they are expected to take on (Blumer, 1969)take on (Blumer, 1969)

• Human interactions result in definitions about the Human interactions result in definitions about the world that are socially constructed based upon world that are socially constructed based upon those interactions (Berger & Luckman, 1966)those interactions (Berger & Luckman, 1966)

Social Constructionism

• There is not an objective reality, but reality There is not an objective reality, but reality is constructed through people languaging is constructed through people languaging together (Gergen, 1994)together (Gergen, 1994)

• Meaning is found in societal practices Meaning is found in societal practices (Gergen, 2001), and reality is constructed in (Gergen, 2001), and reality is constructed in the context of society (Schwandt, 2000)the context of society (Schwandt, 2000)

Narrative Theory

• The stories that people tell shape their lives The stories that people tell shape their lives (White & Epston, 1990)(White & Epston, 1990)

• People’s realities are constructed through People’s realities are constructed through their social systems as well as through their their social systems as well as through their language, their realities are organized and language, their realities are organized and maintained through the stories that they tell, maintained through the stories that they tell, and they contain no and they contain no essentialessential truths truths (Freedman & Combs, 1996)(Freedman & Combs, 1996)

Description of the Problem

• Current grief programs provide program Current grief programs provide program components that are able to deal with grief components that are able to deal with grief in general, but do not target disenfranchised in general, but do not target disenfranchised populations populations

• Although grief programs helpful in some Although grief programs helpful in some ways, disenfranchised grief creates unique ways, disenfranchised grief creates unique needs that call for specialized programs needs that call for specialized programs specific to those needsspecific to those needs

Review of the Literature

• Individuals are expected to detach from the Individuals are expected to detach from the deceased and to sever the emotional ties with the deceased and to sever the emotional ties with the deceased in order to get over the death and to deceased in order to get over the death and to move on with life (Hajal, 1977; Hedtke, 1999; move on with life (Hajal, 1977; Hedtke, 1999; Baker, 2001; Bonanno et al., 2005) Baker, 2001; Bonanno et al., 2005)

• Goal is to break ties with the deceasedGoal is to break ties with the deceased• Individuals who don’t, get “stuck” in the Individuals who don’t, get “stuck” in the

mourning process because of the attachment to the mourning process because of the attachment to the deceased (Freud, 1917)deceased (Freud, 1917)

• Results in complications for the individual (Hajal, Results in complications for the individual (Hajal, 1977; Hedtke, 1999; Baker, 2001; Bonanno et al., 1977; Hedtke, 1999; Baker, 2001; Bonanno et al., 2005; Turner, Wieling, & Boss, 2002)2005; Turner, Wieling, & Boss, 2002)

• Individuals who don’t, get “stuck” in the Individuals who don’t, get “stuck” in the mourning process because of the attachment mourning process because of the attachment to the deceased (Freud, 1917)to the deceased (Freud, 1917)

• Results in complications for the individual Results in complications for the individual (Hajal, 1977; Hedtke, 1999; Baker, 2001; (Hajal, 1977; Hedtke, 1999; Baker, 2001; Bonanno et al., 2005; Turner, Wieling, & Bonanno et al., 2005; Turner, Wieling, & Boss, 2002)Boss, 2002)

• Individuals responding outside of expected Individuals responding outside of expected parameters defined as being pathologicalparameters defined as being pathological

• Often labeled as being avoidant or in denial Often labeled as being avoidant or in denial about the loss (Temes, 1991; Kalich & about the loss (Temes, 1991; Kalich & Brabant, 2006), or defined as acting Brabant, 2006), or defined as acting abnormally to the loss (Wortman & Silver, abnormally to the loss (Wortman & Silver, 1989) 1989)

• Social Support from friends and community Social Support from friends and community sources instrumental in loss (Riley, sources instrumental in loss (Riley, LaMontagne, Hepworth, & Murphy, 2007). LaMontagne, Hepworth, & Murphy, 2007).

• There are many different populations that There are many different populations that fall under the category of disenfranchised fall under the category of disenfranchised grievers (Doka, 1989; Fuller, Geis, & Rush, grievers (Doka, 1989; Fuller, Geis, & Rush, 1989; Tross & Hirsch, 1988; Cave, 2000) 1989; Tross & Hirsch, 1988; Cave, 2000)

Rationale

• The loss of an unmarried romantic partner The loss of an unmarried romantic partner poses a risk for disenfranchised grief, since poses a risk for disenfranchised grief, since the romantic commitment is viewed by the romantic commitment is viewed by society as less significant than either society as less significant than either cohabitation or marriage (Wolfelt, 1990; cohabitation or marriage (Wolfelt, 1990; Kazmarek, & Backlund, 1991).Kazmarek, & Backlund, 1991).

Overview of Study

• Phase OnePhase One

• Individual interviewsIndividual interviews

• Sharing story of lossSharing story of loss

• How others responded to lossHow others responded to loss

• Degree to which participant felt consoled Degree to which participant felt consoled and understood by othersand understood by others

• What would have been helpfulWhat would have been helpful

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be female and have experienced the Must be female and have experienced the death of a partner to whom they were not death of a partner to whom they were not marriedmarried

• Be at least 21 years of age for participation Be at least 21 years of age for participation in study – may have been any age at the in study – may have been any age at the time of the losstime of the loss

• Experienced a romantic relationship with Experienced a romantic relationship with the deceased of at least 1-year in durationthe deceased of at least 1-year in duration

Data Collection

• 17 participants17 participants

• 3 responded to advertisements3 responded to advertisements

• 1 result of snowballing1 result of snowballing

• 13 participant due to word of mouth13 participant due to word of mouth

• Interviews set for 2 hoursInterviews set for 2 hours

• 10 primary questions10 primary questions

Analysis

• Phase TwoPhase Two

• Analysis of interviews – phenomenological Analysis of interviews – phenomenological approachapproach

• Interviews audio taped and transcribed, then Interviews audio taped and transcribed, then coded to find emergent themescoded to find emergent themes

Open Coding

• Internal/Private mourningInternal/Private mourning• SecretsSecrets• Yearning for deceasedYearning for deceased• Guilt/RegretGuilt/Regret• Feeling stuck in Feeling stuck in

relationshipsrelationships• Partner comparisonPartner comparison• SpiritualitySpirituality• Disconnectedness from Disconnectedness from

family/partner’s familyfamily/partner’s family

• Avoidance of pain/ blocking Avoidance of pain/ blocking out lossout loss

• Ambivalence/ambiguityAmbivalence/ambiguity• ““They (others) don’t get it”They (others) don’t get it”• No cohesive terminologyNo cohesive terminology• Partner blessingPartner blessing• Lack of servicesLack of services• Fairy tale – partnerFairy tale – partner• Ceremonies/rituals/ Ceremonies/rituals/

representation of deceasedrepresentation of deceased

Larger Categories

• Relieved – support of family, spirituality, Relieved – support of family, spirituality, societal acknowledgment lackingsocietal acknowledgment lacking

• Unreceptive – support of family, Unreceptive – support of family, spirituality, partner blessing, societal spirituality, partner blessing, societal acknowledgment lackingacknowledgment lacking

• Unacknowledged – support of family, Unacknowledged – support of family, support of partner’s family, spirituality, support of partner’s family, spirituality, partner blessing, societal acknowledgment partner blessing, societal acknowledgment mixedmixed

Axial Coding

• Women who experience death of partner to Women who experience death of partner to whom she is not married experience whom she is not married experience disenfranchised griefdisenfranchised grief

• Support system needs vary according to Support system needs vary according to situationsituation

• Unique treatment needsUnique treatment needs

Results

• Four primary areas of needFour primary areas of need• Societal acknowledgmentSocietal acknowledgment• Coping – writing letters, talking to the Coping – writing letters, talking to the

deceaseddeceased• Spirituality – symbols of comfort Spirituality – symbols of comfort

utilizing clients belief systemutilizing clients belief system• Connection with the deceased – through Connection with the deceased – through

family family based on loss situation based on loss situation

Prototype Program

• Target populationTarget population• Women who experience the death of a Women who experience the death of a

partner to whom they are not marriedpartner to whom they are not married• PurposePurpose

• Meet the needs of women who have Meet the needs of women who have experienced disenfranchised grief by experienced disenfranchised grief by creating a program specific to their creating a program specific to their stated/identified needsstated/identified needs

Goals/Objectives

• Reduce the feelings of isolation Reduce the feelings of isolation

• Provide education about grief and grief Provide education about grief and grief processprocess

• Provide assistance regarding appropriate Provide assistance regarding appropriate grief expressiongrief expression

• Assist in moving forward in grief processAssist in moving forward in grief process

Limitations

• Focused solely on women – not Focused solely on women – not generalizablegeneralizable

• Social construction Social construction another researcher another researcher may find different results/another set of may find different results/another set of respondents, different resultsrespondents, different results

• Participants ethnically homogeneous – Participants ethnically homogeneous – 94.7% Caucasian, 5.3% African-American94.7% Caucasian, 5.3% African-American

• Participant pool – 5% snowballing, 16% Participant pool – 5% snowballing, 16% advertisements, 79% word of mouthadvertisements, 79% word of mouth

• Two categories – Unreceptive and Relieved Two categories – Unreceptive and Relieved – represented by one participant in each – represented by one participant in each categorycategory

• All participant loss heterosexual lossAll participant loss heterosexual loss

Conclusions/Recommendations

• Adds to the limited body of literature on Adds to the limited body of literature on disenfranchised populationdisenfranchised population

• Clinicians can begin to be trained in Clinicians can begin to be trained in providing services related to loss of partner providing services related to loss of partner in unmarried relationships for womenin unmarried relationships for women

• Lead to research and development in other Lead to research and development in other disenfranchised populationsdisenfranchised populations

• Study validates experiences of Study validates experiences of disenfranchisement for women who lose a disenfranchisement for women who lose a partner to whom they are not marriedpartner to whom they are not married

• Study validates construct of grief for Study validates construct of grief for women in these relationshipswomen in these relationships