Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters

Purpose This study investigates how social categories work and intersect in siblings bereaved by drug-related deaths’ (DRDs) stories about their relationships to their deceased brother or sister. The sociocultural embedded process of making meaning of the relationship with the deceased individual is...

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Main Authors: Gunhild Meen, Monika Alvestad Reime, Sari Lindeman, Lillian Bruland Selseng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2372864
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author Gunhild Meen
Monika Alvestad Reime
Sari Lindeman
Lillian Bruland Selseng
author_facet Gunhild Meen
Monika Alvestad Reime
Sari Lindeman
Lillian Bruland Selseng
author_sort Gunhild Meen
collection DOAJ
description Purpose This study investigates how social categories work and intersect in siblings bereaved by drug-related deaths’ (DRDs) stories about their relationships to their deceased brother or sister. The sociocultural embedded process of making meaning of the relationship with the deceased individual is essential in adapting to the loss. However, insight into such experiences of siblings bereaved by a DRD is scarce. Previous research has suggested that DRDs may be stigmatized life experiences for bereaved family members, and this paper furthers understanding of the experiences and issues involved in losing a sibling in a stigmatized death. Methods An intersectional analysis is applied to interviews with 14 bereaved siblings. By investigating and displaying how different categories intertwine, various positionings are identified. Findings Categorization of the deceased siblings as “addicts” constructs a troubled position. However, when “addict” intersects with the categories “unique,” “sibling,” and “uncle,” the troubled subject’s position as an “addict” can be concealed. Conclusions Normative conceptions of addiction and DRDs produce troubled subject positions. By intermingling the category of “addict” with other categories, less problematic positions are created. Still, intersections of categories can also construct further complexities of remorse and self-blame for the bereaved siblings.
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spelling doaj-art-b47977aea7434dbfa89edfe687e9badb2025-08-20T01:55:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312024-12-0119110.1080/17482631.2024.23728642372864Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sistersGunhild Meen0Monika Alvestad Reime1Sari Lindeman2Lillian Bruland Selseng3Western Norway University College of Applied ScienceWestern Norway University College of Applied ScienceWestern Norway University College of Applied ScienceWestern Norway University College of Applied SciencePurpose This study investigates how social categories work and intersect in siblings bereaved by drug-related deaths’ (DRDs) stories about their relationships to their deceased brother or sister. The sociocultural embedded process of making meaning of the relationship with the deceased individual is essential in adapting to the loss. However, insight into such experiences of siblings bereaved by a DRD is scarce. Previous research has suggested that DRDs may be stigmatized life experiences for bereaved family members, and this paper furthers understanding of the experiences and issues involved in losing a sibling in a stigmatized death. Methods An intersectional analysis is applied to interviews with 14 bereaved siblings. By investigating and displaying how different categories intertwine, various positionings are identified. Findings Categorization of the deceased siblings as “addicts” constructs a troubled position. However, when “addict” intersects with the categories “unique,” “sibling,” and “uncle,” the troubled subject’s position as an “addict” can be concealed. Conclusions Normative conceptions of addiction and DRDs produce troubled subject positions. By intermingling the category of “addict” with other categories, less problematic positions are created. Still, intersections of categories can also construct further complexities of remorse and self-blame for the bereaved siblings.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2372864siblingsproblematic substance useaddictiondrug-related deathdiscourse psychologyintersectionsocial categorybereavementmeaning-making
spellingShingle Gunhild Meen
Monika Alvestad Reime
Sari Lindeman
Lillian Bruland Selseng
Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
siblings
problematic substance use
addiction
drug-related death
discourse psychology
intersection
social category
bereavement
meaning-making
title Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters
title_full Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters
title_fullStr Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters
title_full_unstemmed Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters
title_short Beyond troubled and untroubled positions – an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug-related deaths’ meaning-making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters
title_sort beyond troubled and untroubled positions an intersectional analysis of siblings who are bereaved by drug related deaths meaning making stories about their deceased brothers and sisters
topic siblings
problematic substance use
addiction
drug-related death
discourse psychology
intersection
social category
bereavement
meaning-making
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2372864
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