Continuing bonds, complicated grief, and posttraumatic growth among bereaved parents after the loss of a child to cancer

Purpose: Bereaved parents who have lost a child to cancer often maintain ongoing connections with their deceased child. However, the interplay among continuing bonds, complicated grief, and posttraumatic growth remains unclear in Asian cultures, where societal pressure on bereaved parents discourages such connections. This study investigated the relationships of these variables among parents whose child died from cancer in South Korea. Methods: The participants were 57 bereaved parents recruited through support groups. They completed a structured questionnaire featuring the Korean version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder-13, the Continuing Bonds Scale, and five subscales of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Results: Multiple regression analyses found significant associations between continuing bonds and complicated grief after controlling for parents' gender, religious affiliation, and time since the child's death. Additionally, continuing bonds were positively associated with strengthened spirituality and appreciation for life—subscales of posttraumatic growth—with no associations observed for other subscales. Conclusions: This study shed light on the interplay of continuing bonds, complicated grief, and posttraumatic growth among bereaved parents in the Korean cultural context. It underscores the need for culturally competent grief support that validates the significance of continuing bonds. By acknowledging continuing bonds with deceased children, healthcare professionals can better assist bereaved parents with adjustment to loss and facilitate posttraumatic growth amid bereavement.