Mothers’ physical and mental health status after the homicide of their adult children in the small island state of Trinidad and Tobago.

Abstract

University of the West Indies at St. Augustine Mothers of adult children killed by homicide experience traumatic grief that is unique to this population. Yet, there is limited research on their experience and its impact on mothers' physical and mental health status. A total of 20 mothers were interviewed about their physical and mental health status after the homicide of their adult children in the small Caribbean island state of Trinidad and Tobago. This phenomenological study utilized a thematic narrative analysis method to interpret the data. Findings revealed that 17 mothers experienced mental and physical health deterioration and attributed this to the death of their child. In all, 11 mothers were actively utilizing mental health services, and 5 mothers continued to exhibit depressive symptoms but were not seeking mental health services. The study revealed that the mothers attributed adverse mental and physical health outcomes to the death of their child by homicide. The findings highlighted avenues for assessment and for creating services for this grieving population.

An Ecological Review of Homicide Bereavement’s Risk Factors: Implications for Future Research

“…Indeed, psychological and psychiatric studies have confirmed the existence of an array of pathogenic effects of bereavement-such as trauma, PTSD, complicated grief, prolonged grief disorder, anxiety, depression, anger, and irritability-including for people experiencing HB, albeit with much greater severity (e.g., Burke & Neimeyer, 2014;Douglas et al, 2021;Kaltman & Bonanno, 2003;Kaplow et al, 2021;Morall et al, 2011;Powell et al, 2010;Tasker & Wright, 2020). Conducted among mixed samples of individuals experiencing HB and other forms of bereavement, with the exception of Tal et al (2017), studies substantiated and validated observations pertaining to the increased pathogenic effects of HB (Burke & Neimeyer, 2014;Douglas et al, 2021;Hinkson et al, 2020;Kaltman & Bonanno, 2003;Kaplow et al, 2021;Lenferink, van Denderen, et al, 2017;Matthews & Marwit, 2004;Miller, 2009;Morall et al, 2011;Powell et al, 2010;Rheingold & Williams, 2015;Rheingold et al, 2012;Tasker & Wright, 2020;van Denderen et al, 2016;Varga et al, 2020). Scholars conducting studies on HB's mental health' report that PTSD symptoms among individuals experiencing HB seem to be more persistent and lingering than PTSD symptoms among non-HB grieving individuals (van Wijk et al, 2017;Williams et al, 2012;Zinzow et al, 2009Zinzow et al, , 2011 and that these individuals tend to increase their use of prescribed psychotropic medication (Mezey et al, 2002) and substance abuse (Englebrecht et al, 2016;Kaplow et al, 2021).…”

“…Belonging to a socially discriminated and marginalized ethnic or racial minority was reported to be an HB risk factor (Pavon & Basile, 2022; Stretesky et al, 2010). These studies linked racial or ethnic minority status as an HB risk factor to the recurring secondary victimization bereaved people face from society and support systems (Burke et al, 2010; Hinkson et al, 2020; Huggins et al, 2020; Laurie & Neimeyer, 2008; Sharpe, 2008; Sharpe & Boyas 2011; Sharpe et al, 2014) (Table 2).…”

“…Consequently, such mothers might have daily encounters with the killer's family or crime scene where their child was killed, or even worse, the killer. The risk of frequent encounters with the killer is all the more probable in Trinidad due to its high rate of unsolved homicide cases (Hinkson et al, 2020;Huggins & Hinkson, 2022;Huggins et al, 2020), which as noted, is in and of itself, an HB risk factor Keesee et al, 2008;Powell et al, 2010;Stretesky et al, 2010;Wellman, 2014). The pain related to unresolved homicide cases might be all the more accentuated in Trinidad, given its historic roots and culture steeped in colonialism and slavery.…”

“…The pain related to unresolved homicide cases might be all the more accentuated in Trinidad, given its historic roots and culture steeped in colonialism and slavery. According to Hinkson et al (2020), "for Blacks who have experienced the historical trauma of slavery and have had the unanswered questions of missing family members, this pain is intense and can permeate all aspects of their lives including child rearing of the remaining children" (p. 413).…”

“…In addition, and in contrast to those experiencing non-HB, they are often compelled to supervise criminal proceedings to ensure that justice, however meager and postmortem, is achieved for their loved one (e.g., Adkins, 2003; Clements & Vigil, 2003; Dawson & Riches, 1998). They may also need to seek compensation for their injuries, face social stigma regarding the criminal circumstances by which they lost their loved one, and more (e.g., Hinkson et al, 2020; Huggins et al, 2020; Sharpe & Boyas, 2011). Often, such complicated circumstances of grief linger for the rest of their lives (e.g., Boelen & Prigerson, 2007; Silverman et al, 2000) and can have dire consequences for their occupational and educational careers, affect their ability to produce income, and impede their family’s and close friends’ well-being (e.g., Buzzi & DeYoung, 2003; Charmaine & Mahoney, 2004; Clements & Vigil, 2003; Evans et al, 2002; Miller, 2009).…”