Miskendt sorg hos partnere til personer med en erhvervet hjerneskade

Abstract

Crisis and grief reactions in partners to people affected by life-changing illness can be seen as a natural reaction. However, research into grief and grief reactions related to life-changing illness is limited (Calvete & López de Arroyabe, 2012). Therefore, this project explores grief experiences in partners to persons with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and explores how the individual’s grief experience is affected by current cultural and social discourses.

This study is based on four semi-structured interviews with ABI partners. The interview is conducted 2-5 years after the ABI occurred. The participants are two women and two men.

Drawing on discourse psychological analysis, the four participants’ experience of grief is examined, and how it is influenced by their own grief understandings, as well as cultural and societal discourses (Davies & Harre, 1990).

The results show major differences in grief experience between participants. The analysis also reveals, how grief can be experienced as disenfranchised. The results of the analysis are discussed in light of current grief understand- ings, where grief on one hand can be seen as disenfranchised and on the other hand has become a diagnosis (Prolonged Grief Disorder).

Based on this study, an increased focus on the recognition of different losses in the context of becoming a caregiver is recommended, as well as increased acceptance and normalisa- tion of the diversity of grief expressions.