Social support and Black mothers’ bereavement experience of losing a child to gun homicide

Abstract

Social support is important in facilitating survivors’ psychological adaptation following loss to violent deaths. Although literature shows a positive relationship between social support and Black mothers’ resilience after loss of a child to gun violence, no other evidence exists to clarify this relationship. This study used grounded-theory methodology to explore social support among 10 Black mothers following the loss of their children to gun homicide. The findings of the study showed that the mothers experienced altered relationships with friends and families following their loss, which left them feeling isolated in their grief process. Understanding social support in Black mothers’ bereavement is important in devising appropriate interventions for them.

Keywords:

• social support
• stress
• gun homicide
• bereavement
• Black women