| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立暨南國際大學 === 社會政策與社會工作學系 === 92 === During the 921 Earthquake in 1999, 134 children or adolescents aged below 18 lost their parents and became orphans; 52% of them were aged between 12 and 18. For the majority, the bereavement brings great impact in their life, especially for adolescents.
This study aimed at exploring the grief and resilience of adolescents who lost their parents due to the 921 Earthquake. A narrative analysis was used to understand how the grief impact on their life, and the factors that facilitate resilience. The investigator interviewed five adolescents who lost their parents during the 921 Earthquake. Under their consent, they looked back upon and described the grief and the process of resilience.
The major findings of this study were as follows:
A.The grieving process of the adolescents who lost their parents in the 921 Earthquake had gone through stages. The adolescents themselves were also frightened and traumatized by the catastrophe, thus the grief they experienced and the coping methods they used were more complicated than others who solely coped with the parents'' death.
B.Their parents'' death made a significant impact upon their perceived meaning of life, that is, not only did they aspire to become independent, but they also treasure their own life even more than before. Since they were more willing to pursue the meaning of life, they encouraged themselves to stride toward the future further.
C.After the 921 Earthquake, both the government and the non-profit private sectors had provided lots of services to these adolescents. With the help, the negative effect of their parents'' death upon them was mitigated; they made a quick adaptation to the new circumstances; and resilience in them also revealed.
D.Factors of the resilience emerged from these adolescents were：One''s personality, attitude toward life and death, belief in the meaning of life, capability of relieving negative feelings, one''s learning ability, external support system, and religion.
Based on the results of this study, the investigator comes to the following suggestions:
A.Children are usually confused and traumatized after their parents passed away. They need stability and consolation. Thus social work intervention is necessary.
B.Social workers should have a better understanding of the grieving process, in order to obtain the better treatment for the adolescents who lost their parents.
C.It is necessary to assist those people who lose their family members in facilitating their resilience, and coordinating all sorts of external support.
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