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ABSTRACT
Purpose
This qualitative study aimed to gather insights into the experiences of older adults after losing their only child and explore meaningful life needs as a basis for social interventions.
Methods
We conducted individual face-to-face interviews with 29 participants from 10 communities in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using the inductive category development of conventional content analysis.
Results
The experience of losing an only child was devastating and linked with a helpless life in old age. The analysis generated the following three themes encompassing their lived experiences and needs: afraid of getting sick, lying on the edge of misery and surrounded by loneliness.
Conclusions
Losing an only child triggered older adults’ feelings of being misunderstood, disconnected and hopeless. They had an increased likelihood of lacking more on love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization needs than their physiologic and safety needs. Findings from our study will raise awareness on this vulnerable group and help design intervention programmes targeting the specific needs of this neglected segment of the population.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82103957), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan (2020JJ5791). The authors thank the staff of the social organization for their cooperation and all the childless older adults who actively participated in the study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).