How Loved Ones Express Grief After the Death of a Child by Sharing Photographs on Facebook

Abstract

Photographs offer a way to preserve the bond to a deceased child, and encourage those who grieve to create stories to share with others. The aim of this study is to capture the thoughts that loved ones want to express when posting photos and captions on a Facebook. The research data was collected from a discussion board on Facebook and consisted of 229 photographs and their captions. The loved ones of a deceased child shared photographs and captions to express their emotions about the grieving process, their adjustment to loss, and the importance of memories and thoughts aroused by special days.

Keywords:

• Photographs
• Internet
• death of a child
• grief

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Niina Keskinen

Niina Keskinen, MSc, is a PhD student and a lecturer at the Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, Finland. She is writing a dissertation about coping with grief with the use of photographs.

Marja Kaunonen

Marja Kaunonen, PhD, is a professor and dean of the Faculty of Social Science, University of Tampere, Finland. She has conducted long-term research into the phenomenon of grief.

Anna Liisa Aho

Anna Liisa Aho, PhD, is Docent of Health Sciences, Faculty of Social Science, Nursing Science, University of Tampere, Finland. She has conducted long-term research into grief, coping, and the support of those who grieve.