Comparative Analysis of the Psychosocial Symptoms and Experiences of Bereaved Parents and Parents of Children Who Survived the Sewol Ferry Accident After 5 Years: A Qualitative Interview Study

Abstract

Background This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial symptoms and experiences of bereaved parents of victims and parents of survivors of the Sewol Ferry accident five years after the accident. Methods In-depth interviews of 186 bereaved parents of victims or survivors of the Sewol Ferry accident were conducted. We elicited and categorized meaning units relevant to the psychological, cognitive, and physical traits of the participants from these interviews. Differences in responses between bereaved parents and survivors’ parents and between genders were examined using frequency analyses and χ 2 tests. Results Data were organized under seven headings: observed attitude and impression of participants, difficulties due to mental health problems, difficulties due to physical pain, difficulties in relationships, negative changes following the incident, positive changes following the incident, and help needed. Within these headings, 27 themes, 60 sub-themes, and 80 meaning units were elicited. Conclusion This study explored the psychiatric, physical, and relational problems reported by bereaved parents and those of survivors as well as major changes in their personal and social lives after the Sewol Ferry accident. Differences in responses according to gender were also identified. The results from this study could inform and facilitate the implementation of intervention measures, such as long-term psychological evaluation, to bereaved parents of victims or survivors of disasters.

The impact of coping strategies and positive resources on post-traumatic stress symptoms among bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster

“…The bereaved parents have reported experiencing profound embitterment after losing their children in the human-made ferry accident, going through feelings of being cheated, injustice, incompetence, wrongdoing by a perpetrator, and the destruction of their belief and value system ( 27 ). In a qualitative analysis of interviews with Sewol ferry disaster bereaved families, it was revealed that they are maintaining only minimal interpersonal relationships due to social withdrawal ( 28 ). They reported difficulties trusting others and expressed caution when someone tries to get closer to them since the incident.…”