Abstract
Background: Limited research is available to occupational therapy practitioners focusing on parents’ abilities to cope with the loss of an adult child to a drug overdose. We examined the unique experiences of grieving parents from a Kawa model perspective to identify potential implications for occupational therapy.
Methods: We used a qualitative approach in which 11 participants completed Kawa drawings and participated in semi-structured interviews.
Results: Following a Kawa model analysis themes emerged: volatile nature of flow, support from inner circle and connection with outer circle, lonely islands, personal attributes of positivity and economics, and enhancing my river’s flow.
Conclusion: The loss of an adult child to a drug overdose presents health care professionals with a unique set of grieving circumstances, including changes in life roles and abilities to participate in occupations, which can be challenging to address. As a result, this study suggests the Kawa model is an effective assessment tool that should be considered for use when working with those grieving the loss of a child to a drug overdose.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Default journal |
| State | Published - 1800 |
Keywords
- drug overdose
- KAWA
- parental grief
- occupational therapy
Disciplines
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- Occupational Therapy