Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Wynn Duposki

Abstract

Through this retrospective interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) qualitative research project, the childhood experience of growing up with a sibling who experienced a non-fatal suicide attempt was explored. The researcher used IPA as the conceptual foundation. This qualitative phenomenological study included interviewing eight siblings to retrospectively explore the childhood experience of growing up with a suicidal sibling (who had at least one incident of nonfatal suicidal behavior). The interview with each participant consisted of one interview and one follow-up review per Seidman’s semi-structured interviewing guide for phenomenological research. The results were analyzed using hand coding to explore the thematic elements. The researcher found that the results included Black American adult siblings experienced grief and trauma responses in relation to growing up with a suicidal sibling. Specific social change implications included further research and identification of a specific experience surrounding current needs of siblings who grew up with a suicidal sibling. Because there were limited research articles or dissertations on this specific topic, the possible benefits of this study could include opportunities for research regarding further research into this specific population. This research also has social change implications, including decreasing stigma associated with suicidal behaviors, increasing the amount of conversations surrounding the broader implications of suicide on society, possible effects on clinical supervision, methods and interventions of counseling, and leadership and advocacy within the counseling profession.

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