The impact of a child's death : an interpretative phenomenological analysis undertaken with five head teachers
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: \nThis research explores with five head teachers their views and experiences of a period when a child was terminally ill and subsequently died when in their school community. \n \nThe participants were selected purposively from Derbyshire head teachers who had experienced the death of a pupil in their school community. After interviewing the participants using a semi-structured interview schedule the transcribed interviews provided the data for the research. \n \nThe interviews were analysed, using the methodology of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, to explore the experiences of each of the participants. Three superordinate themes were identified which were; \n\tEmotions and their management \n\tInteractions with the bereaved family \n\tInteraction with the school community \nAdditionally, an overarching theme of Elevation was identified. \n \nEach theme is presented and illustrated with abstracts taken from the original data. This is accompanied by interpretation which is also discussed and compared with knowledge from the existing literature. \n \nThe research has illustrated the complications that exist for head teachers in managing their emotions and the possibility of these emotions intruding on their personal and family life. It has illustrated the way in which the relationship between the head teacher and the bereaved family changes and how it changes their interactions within the school community. \n \nThis research led to the consideration of the influence of the cultural expectation enshrined in the saying, 'De mortuis nil nisi bonum dicendum est' (Of the dead, nothing unless good). Also considered is the behavioural derivative of this saying and how it shapes the responses that head teachers make when managing a school community when a child has died. It also led to the consideration of the implications of the research findings for any support professionals who help schools. \n
Author: I.G. Shepherd
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1566196826