The father model of loss and grief following child’s life-limiting illness

Tools

Postavaru, G., Hamilton, J., Davis, S., Swaby, H. ORCID: 0000-0002-6292-2110, Michael, A., Swaby, R. and Mukaetova-Ladinska, E., 2023. The father model of loss and grief following child’s life-limiting illness. Pediatrics. ISSN 0031-4005 (Forthcoming)

Text
1753893_Swaby.pdf - Post-print
Restricted to Repository staff only
Download (284kB)

Abstract

Context: Loss of a child to a life-limiting condition (llc) is one of the most traumatic life events for parents. Research focusing on fathers’ experiences is in its infancy.

Objective: Using a meta-ethnographic approach, we systematically reviewed the literature around fathers’ pre-death and post-death experiences of loss and grief.

Data sources: We searched medline, scopus, cinahl and science direct and used the emerge reporting guidance, the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and starlite recommendations.

Study selection: We used the guide to children’s palliative care and the directory of llcs to select qualitative articles published up until end of march 2023 that described fathers’ pre-death and post-death experiences of loss and grief following their child’s llc. We excluded studies that failed to differentiate outcomes between mothers and fathers.

Data extraction: Extracted data included study details, participants’ characteristics, response rate, source of participants, method and time of data collection, children’s characteristics, and quality assessment. First-order and second-order data were also extracted.

Results: Forty studies informed a father model of loss and grief. This highlights both similarities (ambivalence, trauma responses, fatigue, anxiety, unresolved grief, guilt) and distinct features defining the pre-death and post-death experiences of loss and grief.

Limitations: There was a bias towards greater mother participation in research. Specific categories of fathers remain under-represented in palliative care literature.

Conclusions: Many fathers experience disenfranchised grief and deterioration in mental health following child’s diagnosis and post-death. Our model opens possibilities for personalised clinical support in the palliative care system for fathers.