喪親兒童悲傷反應及其調適之探究──以喪父兒童為例

The Grief Experience and Adjustment of Bereaved Children-Focused on the Children Who Facing the Father's Death

本研究目的在探究喪親兒童悲傷反應及其調適的展現方式，採取質性研究的內容分析法進行分析，透過一對一的個別訪談蒐集資料，研究結果分為兩個部分：在喪親兒童的悲傷反應部分包括：一、情緒方面出現包括有恐懼、擔心、突然的驚嚇、孤單、寂寞、失落、傷心難過等各種忐忑不安之情緒反應。二、認知方面呈現對死亡的陌生和好奇，認為爸爸沒死、不知死後去哪、擔心死後被處罰；不想被看見悲傷，或感覺逝者存在等；或出現對鬼魂懼怕；甚至擔心尚存母親死亡等念頭。三、外顯行為方面，哭泣、看照片和死者對話都是在與死去爸爸維繫關係的主要方式；另外也會有做惡夢、逃避隔離、觸景傷情、表現堅強、性情的轉變、日常行為的改變和人際關係退縮等外顯的表徵行為。四、生理方面悲傷反應則包括有尿床、失眠、胸口疼痛和呼吸困難等顯現在不同兒童身上。其次，在悲傷調適的部分則有以下八項，包括宣洩情緒、回憶、訴說、轉移注意力、對自我期許、透過儀式調適、尋求心靈與宗教的慰藉、以及他人的安慰和陪伴。最後，依據研究結果進行討論，並提出建議供兒童工作者在面對兒童悲傷獨特經驗的建議。

The purpose of this study is to explore the grief and adjustment of bereaved children. All the information collected from individual interviews is analyzes with the content analysis method of qualitative research. The results are divided into two parts: 1. Grief experience of bereaved children: (a) Emotional reactions including fear, worry, sudden shock, loneliness, frustration, sadness and loss. (b) In terms of cognition, the bereaved children are not familiar with and curious about death. For them, their father is still alive, or may just be on a trip. Less understanding may lead them to wonder about life after death and the existence of spirits and ghosts. Sometimes they even choose to hide their emotions and are afraid that their mother will die too. (c) Explicit behavior like crying, withdrawing socially, hiding emotions, changing behavior, having nightmares, acting strong or attempting to have an imaginary conversation with the deceased while looking at old photo was observed. (d) Physiological reactions included bedwetting, insomnia chest pain and difficulty breathing. 2. Grief adjustment of bereaved children: There are eight common coping mechanisms, including: catharsis, recalling, telling, shifting attention, positive thinking, ritualization, becoming spiritual or religious, and seeking comfort and company from others. Finally, the findings are discussed and suggestions are provided for child counselors to help children go through loss and heal.