A Qualitative Study on the Prevalence and Impact of Horticultural Methods as a Grieving Mechanism within Vermont-Based and Virtual Infant/Fetal Bereavement Services
Conference Year
2024
Abstract
This study looks at the prevalence and impact of horticultural methods within the infant/fetal bereavement groups, an important area in anthropology, psychology, and death studies. A review of scholarly literature on the effects and prevalence of horticultural methods in local and virtual bereavement groups in anthropology, psychology, and death studies reveals patterns in community building, self-discovery, and growth through interpretivism and phenomenology. However, there is a gap in the literature focusing on the effects of horticulture on fetal/infant loss using the above theories as well as symbolic interactionism theory, the social construction of reality, and Kleinman’s theory of positive social suffering. To address these gaps, the examination of professionals’ and community members’ perceptions of and use of horticultural methods in grieving infant/fetal loss using interviews, participant observation, and survey methods was conducted. The guiding research questions include: Have members of local fetal and infant loss bereavement groups in Vermont used plants, flowers, planting, or gardening (called horticultural therapy) to process or memorialize their fetal or infant loss? If so, when, where, with whom, and how do they do so? Did any of this occur in UVMMC, or has it all been done elsewhere? Was it done in a group or individually? Do they feel like it has helped with the process of grieving and/or healing? If so, how has it helped, and what would they recommend in this regard to others who have experienced this kind of loss? If not, why not? Do they think that some form of horticultural therapy could be helpful for UVMMC to offer horticultural therapy to parents who have suffered fetal or infant loss? If so, what do they see as the best time, place, and way to do it, and who should be there? If not, why not? If they're not sure, what do they think of some of the ways it has been done elsewhere (show them photos with short explanatory blurbs)? The scholarly significance of this research is the addition of research on fetal and/or infant loss and horticultural therapy within anthropology, psychology, and death studies literature. For practical significance, this research will shed light on lesser-known grieving methods and potentially increase the accessibility of alternative grieving methods.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Jeanne Shea
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Health and Society
Primary Research Category
Social Science
A Qualitative Study on the Prevalence and Impact of Horticultural Methods as a Grieving Mechanism within Vermont-Based and Virtual Infant/Fetal Bereavement Services
This study looks at the prevalence and impact of horticultural methods within the infant/fetal bereavement groups, an important area in anthropology, psychology, and death studies. A review of scholarly literature on the effects and prevalence of horticultural methods in local and virtual bereavement groups in anthropology, psychology, and death studies reveals patterns in community building, self-discovery, and growth through interpretivism and phenomenology. However, there is a gap in the literature focusing on the effects of horticulture on fetal/infant loss using the above theories as well as symbolic interactionism theory, the social construction of reality, and Kleinman’s theory of positive social suffering. To address these gaps, the examination of professionals’ and community members’ perceptions of and use of horticultural methods in grieving infant/fetal loss using interviews, participant observation, and survey methods was conducted. The guiding research questions include: Have members of local fetal and infant loss bereavement groups in Vermont used plants, flowers, planting, or gardening (called horticultural therapy) to process or memorialize their fetal or infant loss? If so, when, where, with whom, and how do they do so? Did any of this occur in UVMMC, or has it all been done elsewhere? Was it done in a group or individually? Do they feel like it has helped with the process of grieving and/or healing? If so, how has it helped, and what would they recommend in this regard to others who have experienced this kind of loss? If not, why not? Do they think that some form of horticultural therapy could be helpful for UVMMC to offer horticultural therapy to parents who have suffered fetal or infant loss? If so, what do they see as the best time, place, and way to do it, and who should be there? If not, why not? If they're not sure, what do they think of some of the ways it has been done elsewhere (show them photos with short explanatory blurbs)? The scholarly significance of this research is the addition of research on fetal and/or infant loss and horticultural therapy within anthropology, psychology, and death studies literature. For practical significance, this research will shed light on lesser-known grieving methods and potentially increase the accessibility of alternative grieving methods.