Abstracts
Résumé
Au Québec, les personnes âgées entre 50 et 64 ans sont le groupe le plus à risque de suicide. Toutefois, peu d’études se sont intéressées spécifiquement aux impacts du suicide d’un parent de ce groupe d’âge sur leurs enfants. Pourtant, les personnes endeuillées par un suicide familial présentent des risques importants de poser le même geste. L’objectif de la présente étude qualitative est d’identifier ce qui caractérise l’expérience des endeuillés par suicide d’un parent âgé entre 50 et 64 ans. Les participants (n = 14) étaient âgés en moyenne de 23 ans (entre 10 et 34 ans) au moment de la perte. L’analyse thématique des entretiens semi-structurés a révélé 5 thèmes principaux : (1) le choc et la désorganisation; (2) l’adaptation et les changements; (3) la transmission intergénérationnelle du suicide; (4) les défis sociaux; et (5) la perception du vieillissement et l’aide médicale à mourir comme solution. Les résultats soulignent que les participants sont aux prises avec les mêmes enjeux que tous les endeuillés par suicide, mais qu’ils sont préoccupés par la transmission intergénérationnelle du suicide. De plus, il semble que la perception négative du vieillissement soit un thème unique au deuil par suicide d’un parent de ce groupe d’âge. En effet, plusieurs endeuillés envisageraient l’aide médicale à mourir comme solution potentielle aux problèmes de l’avancement en âge.
Mots-clés :
- deuil,
- suicide,
- famille,
- vieillissement,
- aide médicale à mourir
Abstract
In Quebec, people aged between 50 and 64 are the group most at risk of suicide. However, few studies have looked specifically at the impact of a parent's suicide in this age group on their children. Yet those bereaved by a family suicide are at high risk of repeating the act. The aim of the present qualitative study was to identify what characterizes the experience of those bereaved by the suicide of a parent aged between 50 and 64. Participants (n = 14) were on average 23 years old (range 10-34) at the time of the loss. Thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed 5 main themes: (1) shock and disorganization; (2) adaptation and change; (3) intergenerational transmission of suicide; (4) social challenges; and (5) perception of aging and medical aid in dying as a solution. The results highlight that the participants are grappling with the same issues as all suicide bereaved, but are concerned about the intergenerational transmission of suicide. Furthermore, it appears that negative perceptions of aging are a theme unique to suicide bereavement of a parent in this age group. Indeed, many bereaved would consider medical aid in dying as a potential solution to the problems of advancing age.
Keywords:
- bereavement,
- suicide,
- family,
- aging,
- medical aid in dying
Resumen
En Quebec, las personas de entre 50 y 64 años son el grupo con mayor riesgo de suicidio. Sin embargo, pocos estudios han analizado específicamente el impacto del suicidio de un progenitor de este grupo de edad en sus hijos. Sin embargo, las personas en duelo por el suicidio de un familiar corren un alto riesgo de cometer el mismo acto. El objetivo de este estudio cualitativo era identificar qué caracteriza la experiencia de las personas en duelo por el suicidio de un progenitor de entre 50 y 64 años. Los participantes (n = 14) tenían una media de 23 años (entre 10 y 34) en el momento de la pérdida. El análisis temático de las entrevistas semiestructuradas reveló 5 temas principales: (1) shock y desorganización; (2) adaptación y cambio; (3) transmisión intergeneracional del suicidio; (4) retos sociales; y (5) percepción del envejecimiento y de la ayuda médica para morir como solución. Los resultados muestran que los participantes se enfrentan a los mismos problemas que todas las personas en duelo por suicidio, pero que les preocupa la transmisión intergeneracional del suicidio. Además, parece que la percepción negativa del envejecimiento es un tema exclusivo del duelo por suicidio de un progenitor en este grupo de edad. De hecho, muchos de los deudos considerarían la ayuda médica para morir como una solución potencial a los problemas de la edad avanzada.
Palabras clave:
- duelo,
- suicidio,
- familia,
- envejecimiento,
- ayuda médica para morir
Appendices
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