喪親者哀悼的任務之一是重新安置逝者在心中的位置，喪親者會發展和逝者持續連結的途徑，本研究試圖了解喪親者與逝者的關係，包括逝者的影響力以及喪親者與逝者連結的方式，透過安置逝者的位置，本研究希望了解喪親者的失落調適，以作為悲傷輔導工作之參考。研究方法：選擇父母死亡之成年喪親者為訪談對象，採用質性研究法，以紮根理論為分析策略，透過家訪與深度訪談進行資料蒐集。研究結果：逝者以新的方式活在家屬心中，轉化為精神上「虛擬的存在」，在喪親家庭具有溝通位格、決策位格、空間位格、情感位格，藉此對喪親者產生影響。研究結論：逝者虛擬的存在可以緩解失落的巨大衝擊，而家屬與逝者不同的連結程度促使家屬間有悲傷的情緒落差，喪親調適則是在以「逝者為重心」和「生者為重心」之間移動。據此提供悲傷評估之參考，並發展洞悉喪親調適的新觀點。
Purpose: Mourning is an inevitable process, especially with the death of a family member. This research explores the emotional connection between the bereaved and the deceased by examining how the bereaved cope with grief and how they adjust their emotions to keep from falling into a downward spiral. Methods: We conducted interviews with 11 family members (4 male, 7 female, mean age = 36) of 8 patients (mean age = 69) who died from cancer. All family members and patients were Taiwanese and interviews were all conducted in Taiwanese 6 to 18 months after the death of the patient. For data analysis, we used open, axial and selective coding. Data analysis was facilitated by computer software WinMAX. Results: The analysis revealed that most respondents believed that the deceased had transformed into another form of existence. Through this virtual existence the deceased were seen as having space and affect and the ability to communicate and make decisions. Family members continued to bond with the deceased by fulfilling their last wishes, inheriting their legacy, following their example, achieving reform or a break-through, and through release. These five forms served as indicators of the strength of the bond between the respondent and the deceased. Some respondents followed their wishes completely, some gradually became independent; only a few were able to completely let go of the deceased. Conclusions: The virtual existence of the deceased alleviated the drastic impact of the loss. The bereaved had different attitudes towards the virtual existence of the deceased, and these attitudes corresponded to significant affective differences between family members, including differences in reaction and recovery. Those who were able to separate themselves quickly from the deceased were recovery-oriented, future-oriented, and focused on the living. They also wanted others to recover quickly from their pain and get back to living. Those who held on tightly to the deceased were loss-oriented; they focused on the deceased and dwelt on past memories. Misunderstandings between the members of a bereaving family occurred as a result of this affective gap as they could not understand how each other felt. As time went by, the bereaved shifted from focusing on the deceased to focusing on living. Time with family members gradually eased the pain and restored a new order. They developed new methods of decision-making that released them from their bonds with the deceased and allowed them a breakthrough in their way of life.
