Transition to a new reality: the experience of viewing or not viewing the body of a relative in the context of grief after a sudden and unexpected death

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Copyright: Mowll, Jane Bowey
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Abstract
Social work practice generally advocates the importance for the bereaved of viewing their relative’s body after death. However, previous studies examining viewing have shown mixed results, suggesting evidence of both benefit and harm. Hitherto, bereaved relatives’ qualitative experience of viewing, alongside symptom measures, and in a coronial practice context has not been studied. A convenience sample of 64 bereaved male and female relatives was recruited between 2004 and 2007 through the Office of the NSW Coroner, some six months after their relative’s sudden, unexpected death. Participants’ grief experience was qualitatively explored and also measured by the Inventory of Complicated Grief – Revised (ICG-R), the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), and the Hogan Grief Reaction Checklist (HGRC). Qualitative themes were elucidated from a semi-structured interview about the viewing and non-viewing experience, and variables such as regret were compared. Most participants viewed the body and found meaning in doing so, including relational connection, reality about the death, and relinquishment of the physical body. However, decisions about viewing for some were constrained by the management of the death or influenced by advice from others. Those who had regret for viewing or not viewing indicated that their initial viewing preference was not supported and some had been given inadequate information about viewing options. Regret was associated with higher scores on the questionnaires, particularly for those who regretted viewing. Difficulties associated with viewing included high distress and experiencing intrusive images. While half of those who did not view were satisfied with this choice, the remainder had intense regret, attributing a sense of unreality about the death to not viewing, and some had intrusive imagined images. The study concludes that personnel should ascertain and support the bereaved person’s preference to view or not within a context of coronial requirements, family culture, information about the appearance of the body and the capacity of the bereaved at the time of the death. Findings are contextualised in current understandings of grief adjustment after a sudden loss, and implications for practice are discussed. Limitations of the study include the cross-sectional design. Further longitudinal research with a representative sample is recommended.
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Mowll, Jane Bowey
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Publication Year
2011
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Thesis
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PhD Doctorate
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