An Exploration of Bereaved Black and African American Youth’s Engagement with the Meaning Making Model of Coping

Author

Rachel Stobbe

Date

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Kathryn Howell

Committee Member

Gina Caucci

Committee Member

Emily Srisarajivakul

Abstract

The death of a parent in childhood is a profoundly distressing event, which often overshadows discussions about post-loss growth. Importantly, Black and African American youth have been historically overlooked in the grief literature, despite experiencing high rates of parental loss influenced by discriminatory systems of oppression. The current study employed reflexive thematic analysis to assess engagement with the Meaning Making Model of Coping (Park, 2010; Park & Folkman, 1997) among 15 parentally bereaved Black and African American youth (Mage = 13.07, SD = 2.22; 60% female). Six themes emerged and findings suggest that creating space for bereaved youth to openly discuss the loss of their caregiver and having warm, safe adults in their lives were central to growth following parental death. Clinicians should consider ways to involve caregivers and acknowledge the nature of the meaning-making process to enhance the well-being of parentally bereaved Black and African American youth

Comments

Data is provided by the student.”

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Embargoed unitl 3/29/2026

Recommended Citation

Stobbe, Rachel, "An Exploration of Bereaved Black and African American Youth’s Engagement with the Meaning Making Model of Coping" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3463.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3463