Table 2 The Categories extracted from the meaning of losing a child in elderly parents
From: The meaning of losing a child in older adults: a qualitative study
Theme | Categories | Subcategories | Examples of initial coding |
|---|---|---|---|
Finding hope in the heart of darkness | Tasting the bitter flavor of life | Difficulty in enduring grief | Losing a child as one of the most difficult tragedies Endless grief An unforgettable sorrow |
Lack of understanding of tragedy by others | Ignorance of others about the situation of the parents Lack of understanding of the problem by friends The unthinkable loss of a child | ||
Separation of a part of your body | Losing half of the mother’s being Heartache Removing one part of the mother’s being | ||
Searching for a positive meaning in losing a child | Liberation from worldly sufferings | End of the child’s sufferings The child’s release from the material world The child’s release from the disease | |
Joining the beauties | To begin a new life The child’s joining to light Going to a better world | ||
Divine Providence | God’s will in losing one’s child Losing a child as a divine destiny End of the child’s life determined by God’s will | ||
Divine Trial | Exhibition of God’s power The test of patience by God Passing a really hard divine trial |