Paths to positive growth in parents bereaved by drug-related death: A mixed-method study

Kristine Berg Titlestad; Pål Kristensen; Maja O'Connor; Sigurd Hystad; Kari Dyregrov

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.982667

Paths to positive growth in parents bereaved by drug-related death: A mixed-method study

Front Psychol. 2022 Aug 25:13:982667. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.982667. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Kristine Berg Titlestad¹, Pål Kristensen², Maja O'Connor³, Sigurd Hystad^{1

4}, Kari Dyregrov¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Welfare and Participation, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway.
² Centre for Crisis Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
³ Unit for Bereavement Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
⁴ Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

Abstract

Introduction: Drug-related deaths (DRDs) are a major public health challenge. Losing a child to a DRD can be a very stressful life event, which places parents at risk of mental and physical health problems. However, traumatic experiences like losing a child to DRD can paradoxically also lead to positive psychological changes. A mixed-method approach was used to understand the complexity of the phenomenon of post-traumatic growth experienced by parents following a DRD.

Method: By combining data from a survey (n = 89) and interviews (n = 14), we explored positive growth experiences among Norwegian parents. We conducted descriptive analyses of the sample's demographic characteristics and mean scores for Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SF) items. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the influence of the ability to perform daily activities (WSAS), self-efficacy (GSE-SF), social support (CSS), and symptoms of prolonged grief (PG-13) on the outcome variable of post-traumatic growth (PTGI-SF). Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to analyze the qualitative data. Finally, we integrated the results of the survey and the interviews.

Results: For items measuring post-traumatic growth, parents scored highest on the item "I discovered that I'm stronger than I thought I was" and lowest on the item "I am able to do better things with my life." Self-efficacy and social support had a statistically significant relation with post-traumatic growth. Two themes were generated from the interviews: (I) new perspectives on life and (II) new paths in life. Even though the "New Possibilities" subscale had the lowest mean score for the PTGI-SF, new paths in life were important for many of the interviewed parents.

Discussion: Parents described traumatic stressors associated with having a child who uses narcotics and hence experienced positive changes even before losing their child. We argue that on an individual level, the consequences of spillover stigma, low self-efficacy, and intrusive rumination can hinder potential post-traumatic growth. On a group level, enhancing network support may increase post-traumatic growth experiences. Hence, parents who have experienced a DRD can benefit from help to activate their social networks and strengthen their self-efficacy.

Keywords: bereavement; drug-related death; parents; positive experiences; post-traumatic growth.