Discussing the dead: Patterns of family interaction regarding lost family members

The current study focused on the variations of family patterns and the overall environment of family communication regarding a lost family member as reflected in the communication of the family system. Participants were recruited in undergraduate communication courses at a Midwestern university, as well as via snowballing techniques in the same Midwestern city. A total of 74 surveys were submitted that fulfilled the participation criteria of having lost an immediate family member at least two years ago. Surveys were largely qualitative in nature and were available online at the Survey Monkey website. Surveys were processed using thematic analysis and two separate, independent reviewers.The current study found a variety of ways that families pattern their communication in the process of re-establishing identity after a family member dies. Two major distinctions stood out: the different patterns of interaction for within-family conversations versus those for conversations with people outside the family, and the patterns of interaction for families who did versus did not engage in interaction regarding their lost family member. The study also found that emotional qualities related strongly to within-family interaction regarding lost family members, while taking the perspective of the "other" related strongly to non-family interaction regarding lost family members. Finally, an initial Theory of Family Interaction Regarding Lost Family Members was proposed and discussed.