Same-sex partner bereavement: Non-HIV-related loss and new research directions

Eleftherios Patlamazoglou, Janette Graetz Simmonds, Tristan Leslie Snell

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

    13 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The experience of same-sex-attracted people who have lost a partner is neglected in the existing literature on bereavement. Previous research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQ) populations tends to focus on the loss of a partner to HIV-related causes, and there is scant research concerning non-HIV-related bereavement. The purpose of this article is to investigate the non-HIV-related bereavement experiences of same-sex partners and to address the potential complications of disenfranchised grief. Coping with the loss of a same-sex partner and the impact of bereavement on subsequent relationships are also discussed. Implications for counseling of bereaved same-sex-attracted individuals are drawn, and recommendations for future psychological research on the experience of bereavement are made.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)178-196
    Number of pages19
    JournalOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
    Volume78
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2018

    Keywords

    • same-sex
    • disenfranchised grief
    • bereavement
    • counseling
    • loss

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