Parenting young children while grieving a spouse’s death: A qualitative application and adaptation of family level components of the Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement

The goal of this qualitative study was to apply components of the revised Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement, including loss-oriented and restoration-oriented coping at the family level, oscillation, and overload, to the experiences of young, widowed parents with children and adapt it in relation to their unique experiences. Young parents in this study (N=12) had at least one child under 18 years old at the time of the loss. Semi-structured interviews from a larger project were examined using secondary data analysis, which involved inductive and deductive approaches. Key findings provide evidence for how LO and RO coping at the family-level, oscillation, and parenting and emotional overload occur and encourage a more in-depth conceptualization of oscillation influences within this population. Further, practical implications for grieving parents with young children include receiving structured support in emotion regulation techniques, mindfulness training, and in-the-moment strategies to better manage oscillation and overload.