Adaptive strategies and occupational responses in the everyday lives of bereaved mothers

Bereavement imposes significant occupational demands on bereaved mothers, requiring the development of adaptive occupational responses to the changed reality resulting from the death of their child. This qualitative, cross-sectional, and exploratory study aimed to identify occupational responses in the everyday lives of bereaved mothers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants and analyzed using oral history and content analysis techniques. Findings revealed that bereaved mothers employ diverse occupational strategies that support the restoration of occupational performance, enhance familiarity with their environment, and enable biographical reorientation in everyday life. These adaptive responses facilitate coping with the loss and the reconstruction of personal meaning. The study highlights the crucial role of occupations in understanding how bereaved mothers navigate their grief and adapt to new life circumstances. This knowledge can inform occupational therapy practices aimed at supporting this population.