“That weird kid without parents”: a qualitative analysis of identity following bereavement due to parental intimate partner homicide in Australia
Creators: name: Eastwood, Oliver
name: Conroy, Rowena
name: Chavez, Katitza Marinkovic
name: Joy, Kathryn
name: Devaney, John
name: Kurdi, Zain
name: Frederick, John
name: Alisic, Eva
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Mental Health

description: Bereavement through parental intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a unique form of complex trauma that may disrupt and destabilise identity in surviving children. This qualitative study aimed to generate a better understanding of post-homicide experiences and needs in the context of identity to improve support for these neglected victim-survivors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Australia with 12 participants aged 16 to 55 years (10 females, one male, and one non-binary) who were younger than 18 years when one of their biological parents murdered the other. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes were generated: (1) non-normalcy; (2) isolation and alienation; (3) negotiating silence; and (4) understanding self through connection to parents. Participants’ bereavement seemed to catalyse a self-concept of difference that was defined relationally in opposition to “normal” peers. Isolation ensued this othering and was sometimes compounded by a lacking sense of belonging in post-homicide family environments or engagement in support that exacerbated alienation. Societal taboos saw participants mask their inner worlds, which hampered sense making and drove self-uncertainty. Connection to parents was an important vehicle for self-understanding. Participants generally rejected perpetrators and maintained an active connection with the deceased, which sometimes served as a powerful means of resolving identity-based tensions (e.g. fear of inheriting perpetrator traits). Peer-based models of support and connection to victim parents warrant further investigation as potential intervention targets to alleviate identity-based distress following bereavement due to parental IPH. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>The loss of a parent through parental intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a complex and distressing phenomenon that remains under-recognised.Existing research has evidenced increased risk of negative health outcomes following bereavement but has generally neglected the experiences and perspectives of those with lived experience.The circumstances surrounding this form of traumatic loss point to identity as a salient source of disturbance and distress. The loss of a parent through parental intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a complex and distressing phenomenon that remains under-recognised. Existing research has evidenced increased risk of negative health outcomes following bereavement but has generally neglected the experiences and perspectives of those with lived experience. The circumstances surrounding this form of traumatic loss point to identity as a salient source of disturbance and distress. <b>What this topic adds:</b>This is the first qualitative enquiry into lived experiences of bereavement through parental IPH during childhood in the Australian context.Results highlight impacts beyond clinical outcomes concerning experiences of non-normalcy, isolation and estrangement, societal silencing, and how identity was negotiated through connection to perpetrator and victim parents.Efforts to foster connection between peers with shared lived experience of IPH and victim parents may be helpful in countering experiences of identity-based distress reported by people with lived experience. This is the first qualitative enquiry into lived experiences of bereavement through parental IPH during childhood in the Australian context. Results highlight impacts beyond clinical outcomes concerning experiences of non-normalcy, isolation and estrangement, societal silencing, and how identity was negotiated through connection to perpetrator and victim parents. Efforts to foster connection between peers with shared lived experience of IPH and victim parents may be helpful in countering experiences of identity-based distress reported by people with lived experience.