Ambiguous loss after shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma: parental management of dialectical contradictions of grief. Issue 3 (26th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Powell, Kimberly A.; Sorenson, Amber
• Is Part Of: Communication quarterly. Volume 68:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 264
• Publication Date: 2020-05-26
• Subjects: Shaken baby syndrome -- ambiguous loss -- grief management -- dialectics; Communication -- Periodicals; 302.205
• DOI: 10.1080/01463373.2020.1759112
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-3373

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma (SBS/AHT) is the number one cause of child abuse related deaths in the United States. This study, based on qualitative interviews with 35 birth parents of SBS/AHT survivors, employs grief management and dialectical theory to explore the ambiguous loss experienced by parents. This study finds parents experience dialectics of acknowledgment-denial, control-helplessness, certainty-uncertainty, guilt-innocence, and openness-closedness, which prevent them from fully experiencing grief due to the ambiguity of the loss. Because their child is still alive, and the loss is the experience of raising a formerly healthy child, the ambiguous loss experienced, complicated by dialectics of grief, prevent their fully dealing with the grief. Grief management tactics that impact family communication are explored.