Growing after suffering : exploring personal growth through the experience of losing a spouse

Abstract

This study focused on spousal loss and explored the growth outcomes following the loss of a spouse. To achieve this objective, the following research question to this qualitative study used is: "What is the experience and meaning of going through personal growth, following spousal loss"? The methodology used in this research was the phenomenological approach. Six participants' took part in the in-depth interviews whose purpose was to extract the main themes of the phenomenon. The themes are described and examined from the growth perspective of existential psychology. Seven themes were identified that indicate that bereavement can contribute to personal growth. Every aspect of the participant's lives was touched by the loss of the spouse, thus perceived changes in self, changes in the sense of relationships with others, and a changed philosophy of life occurred. This study is important because it voices the experiences of individuals who have experienced personal growth following the loss of a spouse.