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Understanding The Lived Experiences Of African-American Women Who Have Lost A Male Child To Suicide Article Review

¶ … Lived Experiences of African-American Women who have lost a male child to suicide The lived experiences of late-adolescent female suicide survivors: 'A part of me died' by Willem a. Hoffmann; Chris Myburgh; and Marie Poggenpoel.

Explain how the study tested the constructs of the new theory.

Over the years there have been two precise sampling strategies used by numerous researchers. These two strategies are the probability and a non-probability sampling strategies. The main distinction between these two strategies is that the former is more casual and does not have a specific target or segment of the population in mind; whereas the non-probability sampling procedure is very official and very purposeful in its choice of who the researcher studies and why. The researcher used non-probability purposive sampling to hand pick students. More specifically, the research participants were five female late-adolescents (aged 17 -- 22 years) who were recruited by means of purposive sampling at a South African tertiary institution and at youth camps.

For conducting this study, the researcher used the standardized and semi-structured form of interview as that enabled him to get more in-depth and flexible data that would be impossible to get with a completely formal or structured interview format or an unstructured format. The framework was chiefly separated into different sub-categories so that the overall structure would follow rational, coherent and free-flowing instructions. The data assessment for qualitative information was done through a division of all the facts in relevant groups. This allowed thorough and efficient assessments of all responses and information collected. In short data collection consisted of collage facilitated, face-to-face phenomenological interviews. In addition, some participants provided documentary material in the form of personal diaries, letters and poems.

Link theoretical or conceptual frameworks used to support the articles.

The data analysis...

The following salient experiences emerged during the data analysis: guilt, self-blame, blaming others or God, anger, loss or restriction of 'self', depression, suboptimal behavioral coping patterns, changes in relationship dynamics, and suicidality. The results of this study can be used by mental health professionals and caregivers to support adolescent suicide survivors effectively, in the midst of their mourning.
Describe the problem, the phenomenon, the issue, or the condition researched in each article.

The researcher articulates that people's thoughts often focus on the suicide victim immediately after a completed suicide. Yet, the real victims of such an event are those individuals who are left behind to cope with the aftermath of the suicide. This phenomenological psychological study explored the lived experiences of late-adolescent suicide survivors, particularly those negative experiences that seemed to worsen in the weeks and months after a significant other's completed suicide.

Identify themes that were included in the literature review.

The researchers initially conceptualized suicide as an inexplicable, irreversible and tragic act that often leaves people confused and stigmatized. Subsequently, he gave facts and figures about global suicidal deaths. Statistics indicate that, on average, more people die annually from suicide than from war, homicide or traffic accidents. Thereafter he explains that although much information regarding the demographics, causes, risk factors and treatment of suicidal behavior has been revealed over the past four decades, only a few studies, most of which were conducted in the United States of America, have focused on the lived experiences of suicide survivors

Article 2: Article Title: The Aftermath of Suicide Among African-Americans: by Donna Holland Barnes

Explain how the study tested the constructs of the theory.

Nineteen participants from throughout…

Sources used in this document:
The researcher points out that there is a paucity of research on suicide survivors and even fewer studies exist on African-American suicide survivors. He conceptualizes suicide survivors as individuals who have lost a family member to suicide. Furthermore, he illustrates that although suicide is a relatively rare event, particularly among African-Americans, the recent dramatic increase in suicide among African-American youth makes it critical to understand this phenomena.

Subsequently he signifies the phenomenon of suicide survivors by highlighting various facts. For instance, he highlights that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1980 and 1995, rates for African-American youth aged 15 to 19 increased 128% compared to 19% for Whites. Furthermore, he argues that although there has been a recent decline in the suicide rates among African-American youth, suicide continues to be the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-old African-Americans (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2004).

He conceptualizes that bereavement with regards to suicide and points out that it has many emotional complexities that may evoke such symptoms as anxiety, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbance, and depression. Lastly, he conceptualizes the awareness o suicide figures amongst African-Americans and points out that unfortunately, some African-Americans continue to deny that suicide is a problem within the Black community; this view is buttressed by the fact that suicide is a relatively rare behavior among all ethnic groups. Lastly, he linked grief and suicide strongly and argued that grief when associated with suicide differs from grief from other forms of death because of the emotional complexities that go along with losing someone this way.
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