title: Changes experienced by and the future values of bereaved family members determined using narratives from bereavement life review therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goals of this study were to investigate the changes experienced by bereaved family members in Japan and to determine what activities they would value in the future based on narratives from a bereavement life review, which is a type of psychotherapy used to treat depression and promote spiritual well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 20 bereaved Japanese family members who underwent two sessions of bereavement life review over a period of two weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using qualitative analysis, we identified four areas of changes ("learning from the deceased's death and self-growth," "healing process," "relating with others," "relating with society," and "performing new family roles") and five categories of valued activities ("continuing grief work," "living with a philosophy," "attaining life roles," "keeping good human relationships," and "enjoying life").
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "Learning from the deceased's death and self-growth" and "relating with others" are common in Japan and Western countries, whereas "relating with society," "healing process," and "performing new family roles" are more characteristic of Japan. The strength of bonding with the deceased may influence the values of bereaved family members. We concluded that bereavement life review therapy can contribute positively to their grief work.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing,St. Mary's College,Fukuoka,Japan.
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.affiliation: School of Human Welfare Studies,Kwansai Gakuin University,Osaka,Japan.
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.affiliation: Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences,Maebashi,Japan.
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiihara
authors.affiliation: Customer Service Department,Koekisha Co. Ltd.,Osaka Head Office, Osaka,Japan.
authors.forename: Kumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Izuhara
mesh_terms: D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D033262:Narration; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012945:Social Values
keywords: Bereavement life review