| Adolescent bereavement presents a life crisis at a time when development is marked by significant transitions. Although the study of bereavement in children and adults has provided a rich context for researchers, little research has investigated adolescent bereavement, particularly in response to the death of a father. In the current study, a narrative approach was used to explore the impact of loss on the development of self in paternally bereaved adolescent girls aged 17 to 19 years. Participants' life history, critical events, and anticipated future narratives were examined for thematic content, redemption/contamination and agency/communion sequences, and clinical and social-cognitive dimensions. Analyses suggested that through the sharing of autobiographical stories, participants made meaning of their experiences. That is, these girls were able to transform in the wake of their loss and had positive views of how their future lives would unfold. |
