The Complexity of Couple Communication in Bereavement: An Illustrative Case Study

Sharing grief experiences, or "storying" grief, can be a key resource in adapting to loss, one that can contribute to stronger bonds and relational intimacy within the family. In this article, the authors conceptualize communication between grieving family members in terms of 3 "D&quo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Death studies 2011-11, Vol.35 (10), p.905-924
Main Authors: Hooghe, An, Neimeyer, Robert A., Rober, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Bereavement
Brain Neoplasms - psychology
Case Studies
Child Mortality
Children
Communication
Conflict (Psychology)
Coping
Couples
Deaths
Emotions
Families & family life
Family
Family - psychology
Family Relations
Family Relationship
Female
Grief
Health technology assessment
Humans
Interpersonal Communication
Intimacy
Male
Parent-Child Relations
Self Disclosure (Individuals)
Spouses - psychology
Therapists
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Summary:Sharing grief experiences, or "storying" grief, can be a key resource in adapting to loss, one that can contribute to stronger bonds and relational intimacy within the family. In this article, the authors conceptualize communication between grieving family members in terms of 3 "D" processes, emphasizing the extent to which such communication is dialectic, dialogic, and dynamic in nature. They illustrate the complexity of sharing about a mutual loss, focused on these 3 features, by referring to a case study of a couple coping with the death of a child in the context of a newly formed family. Rather than unilaterally advocating the promotion of open communication, the authors suggest that therapists working with bereaved families first discuss the complexities of communication with the family members, specifically those concerning talking and keeping silent, and explore the different meanings associated with sharing grief experiences with each other.
ISSN:0748-1187
1091-7683
DOI:10.1080/07481187.2011.553335