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August 19, 2026Death StudiesOpen Access

Living in the shadows: Sudden maternal loss in childhood and the lifelong negotiation of identity and belonging among Arab-Muslim adults in Israel

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Authors

MEMayis EissaSSSamah Shbeta

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Overview

Qualitative study reveals sudden childhood maternal loss creates biographical rupture and sustained relational bonds in Arab-Muslim adults, challenging traditional detachment grief models.

Key Points

  • To examine how Arab-Muslim adults retrospectively make sense of childhood maternal loss and how the experience shapes identity and belonging across the lifespan.
  • Constructivist qualitative study design using semi-structured, in-depth interviews (N=11).
  • Participants experienced sudden maternal death as a profound biographical rupture dividing life into distinct 'before' and 'after' periods.
  • Bereaved adults sustained ongoing bonds with their deceased mothers through everyday relational practices, progressing from rupture toward relational continuity over time.

Cite This Study

Eissa et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8563ae03308d306e2d6fd2https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2026.2716633
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