Exploring the lived experience of older Chinese “Shidu” parents who lost their only child: A phenomenology study

The purpose of this study was to explore lived experiences of older “Shidu” parents in China. A qualitative phenomenology study using Colaizzi’s method was employed in a major metropolitan city in China. 8 individuals from 5 families participated in this study. Participants were parents who had lost their only child. 3 participants were male and 5 were female. Four major themes emerged from the data: (1) “Shidu” means excessive grief, and facing spiritual dilemma; (2) “Shidu” often results in withdrawal from society, and social disorder to some extent; (3) Irrational perception on “Shidu” will cause more harmful feelings, like self-blame, guilt, low self-worth; and (4) “Shidu” means loss of support, and worrying about how to manage life after the death of their only child. The findings revealed that the older “Shidu” parents felt a strong desire to express their need for psychosocial support and understanding. These findings are related to the traditional Chinese culture that a child is the center of the family.