Coping with Grief After Losing a Loved One to Homicide
Start Date
29-4-2022 2:15 PM
Location
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 2nd floor
Abstract
The purpose of this explorative research study is to gain more knowledge on the most common coping mechanisms used by African Americans after experiencing the loss of a loved one to homicide. Homicides are more commonly committed against African Americans than Non-Hispanics or Caucasians, and African Americans oftentimes have strong faith beliefs and tend to lean into his or her faith during a period of grief, according to pre existing literature. Gathering research that better understands the most beneficial coping skills for this specific population will encourage implementation of specific practices or theoretical frameworks that social workers and other helping professions can use to most efficiently help clients through their process of grieving. This data was collected through the form of a survey, and distributed via telephone. Surveys were distributed to seven clients within the Victim Assistance Liaison Unit at the Cincinnati Police Department who have experienced the loss of a loved one through homicide between the years of 2019 and 2020. All participants are between the age of thirty and seventy years old, and all identify as African American. These participants may be mothers, fathers, grandparents, or siblings to the victim of homicide. Results have been collected and will be presented later.
Coping with Grief After Losing a Loved One to Homicide
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 2nd floor
The purpose of this explorative research study is to gain more knowledge on the most common coping mechanisms used by African Americans after experiencing the loss of a loved one to homicide. Homicides are more commonly committed against African Americans than Non-Hispanics or Caucasians, and African Americans oftentimes have strong faith beliefs and tend to lean into his or her faith during a period of grief, according to pre existing literature. Gathering research that better understands the most beneficial coping skills for this specific population will encourage implementation of specific practices or theoretical frameworks that social workers and other helping professions can use to most efficiently help clients through their process of grieving. This data was collected through the form of a survey, and distributed via telephone. Surveys were distributed to seven clients within the Victim Assistance Liaison Unit at the Cincinnati Police Department who have experienced the loss of a loved one through homicide between the years of 2019 and 2020. All participants are between the age of thirty and seventy years old, and all identify as African American. These participants may be mothers, fathers, grandparents, or siblings to the victim of homicide. Results have been collected and will be presented later.
