Bereaved Daughters: Social Support, Turning Points, and Maintaining a Connection in Computer-mediated Communication
Open Access
Author:
Gibson, Toni Lynn
Graduate Program:
Communication Arts and Sciences
Degree:
Master of Arts
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
March 02, 2012
Committee Members:
Michelle E Day, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
Bereavement Mother-daughter Social Support Turning Points Maintaining a Connection Computer-Mediated Communication
Abstract:
The goal of this study was to examine bereavement communication of motherless daughters on a weblog called “Momless Daughter.” I analyzed the blog in order to find the types of social support that are requested and provided, how daughters maintain a connection with their deceased mothers, and what turning points seemed salient to bereaved daughters. I found that both emotional and informational social support were requested implicitly and explicitly by bereaved daughters in this blog. Similarly, both emotional and informational social support were provided. These types of social support exhibited particular characteristics, many of which were
unique to this online format. I also found that there were many turning points that were salient to daughters and that these turning points were experienced very differently than daughters with living mother-daughter dyads. Additionally, I found that part of the reason why the turning points were so difficult was because they violated the expectations of the daughter. Lastly, I found that daughters maintain a connection with their mothers in ways that have been previously indicated by bereavement research and in other ways that have not been noted yet. To conclude
this thesis, I considered the implications of the results, directions for future research, and the strengths and limitations of the study.
