Death of A Parent: Understanding Vulnerabilities and Challenges of Young Adults Using Thematic Apperception Test

Abstract

The loss of a parent is a traumatic event in a person’s life which can affect physical, psychological and emotional well-being. Grief due to the death of a parent intensifies vulnerabilities in individuals. This paper explores challenges faced by young adults between the ages of eighteen to twenty-five years who have lost their parent in the last two years through Thematic Apperception Test and Case study. The participants for the research included 15 individuals, 5 male (group 1) and female participants (group 2) who had lost one of their parents and 5 females (group 3) who did not experience the loss of a parent. Procedure of Analysis for interpretation of summaries of individual stories was done with the help of Dr. L. P. Mehrotra’s Manual. The interpretation was carried out separately for males’ and females’ stories, then common themes were extracted. Males who had lost a parent figure exhibited predominant needs for achievement and acquisition. They tried to overcome the feelings of dejection through counteraction and repression. Females who had lost a parent figure exhibited predominant need for succourance which is in conflict with their loss of a parent. They compensated for the loss of a parent by seeking love from other people in their lives. The results of the study are discussed and limitations and contributions are highlighted.