Arab Muslim Mothers' Struggle Attributing Meaning to Child Loss in Home Accidents

The violent death of a child leaves mothers devastated, bereaved, and desperate for meaning. This study examined 15 Muslim Arab bereaved mothers (aged 28-46) from northern Israel, whose children (aged 1-6) died in home accidents 2-7 years earlier. Using a descriptive phenomenological approach, thematic analysis identified three themes: "enduring mental effects," "self-blame," and "struggle to ascribe meaning to the loss within the Islamic faith and social values." The role of attributing meaning, managing guilt, and the struggle to reconcile conflicting religious and societal views are examined. A need for treating bereaved mothers' feelings of guilt was revealed.