Ultimate Coping Strategies: The Differences Among Parents of Murdered or Abducted, Long-Term ...

191 Pages·2009·0.53 MB·English

Ultimate Coping Strategies: The Differences Among Parents
of Murdered or Abducted, Long-Term Missing Children
Robert DeYoung, Ph.D.
Lynn University at Boca Raton, 2001

Copyright@2001 by DeYoung, Robert F. All Rights Reserved
UMI Number: 3009548

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Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to
assess, through naturalistic inquiry, the differences
between and relationships among coping strategies of
parents of murdered or abducted, long-term missing
children, where the offender was non-familial. Multiple
data sources were used to examine two areas: The perceptive
differences of coping among parents of murdered children in
contrast to parents of abducted, long-term missing
children, where the offender was non-familial; and the ways
in which coping strategies of parents of murdered children
differ from the coping strategies of parents of abducted,
long-term missing children, where the offender was non-
familial.
This phenomenological study used a non-random,
purposeful sample selected from contacts established
through the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children/Florida Branch (NCMEC/FL). The sample included
four participants where the child was the victim of a
non-familial homicide and four participants where the child
was the victim of a non-familial abduction and has not been
recovered. An interview and observational approach,
incorporating audio-recorded interviews of unstructured,
in-depth and open-ended questions of each participant in a
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one-on-one setting, was utilized. Participant feedback, the
verification of the researcher’s interpretations and
conclusions were conducted.
A single dominant theme emerged when analyzing the
similarities and differences among the groups: The duration
of expected coping dependent upon the likelihood of
resolution. Parents of abducted, long-term missing children
associated effective coping strategies as those devised to
sustain the parental survivor through long-term
circumstances. In contrast, parents of murdered children,
who had acquired resolution, responded with coping
mechanisms to deal directly with the loss.
The analysis identified that both groups suffered
comparable bereavement symptoms, and utilized similar
coping strategies, during times of ambiguous loss. The two
groups mirrored each other emotionally until the time that
parents of murdered children attained the first stage of
resolution: clarification of the ambiguous loss through
outcome determination. At this point, parents of murdered
children were then able to embark on the different
emotional and physiological track toward the identifiable
stages of resolution.

Dedication and Acknowledgements

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This dissertation is dedicated to the many individuals
who provided support, direction, and encouragement. First,
and foremost, I would like to thank my wife, Joye, and our
daughter, Emily, for allowing me to pursue my academic
endeavors. Anyone who has endured the process will
understand what I mean.

I owe special thanks to my committee: Dr. Carole Warshaw,
Dr. William Leary, and Dr. John Sullivan. These individuals
created an environment that provoked thought and discussion
that led directly to the completion of this research.

I must extend thanks to each of the parental survivors, who
so courageously created a narrative of their personal life
event so that others may better understand how to cope if
tragically faced with a similar loss. Sadly, the number of
parental survivors will continue to grow.

I am grateful to Nancy McBride of the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children/Florida Branch. Without her
assistance this research would not have happened. I am
privileged to call her a colleague and friend.

I wish to extend a special thanks to Lt. R.V. Howard, who
instilled in me the belief that obstacles are merely worthy
goals and that I was capable of attaining any goal I
desired through structure, discipline, and focus.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

LIST OF TABLES …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7

LIST OF FIGURES …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9

INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10

Purpose of the Research …………………………………………………………………… 11
Research Questions ………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Operational Definitions …………………………………………………………………… 12

LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 16

Support Groups …………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
Parents of Murdered Children ……………………………………………………… 29
Parents of Abducted, Long-term Missing Children …… 30
National Center for Missing/Exploited Children ……… 32
The Bereavement Process …………………………………………………………………… 32
Coping Strategies …………………………………………………………………………………… 37

METHODOLOGY ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 41

FINDINGS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 52

Individual Case Interviews …………………………………………………………… 54
Within-Case Analysis …………………………………………………………………………… 91
Parents of Abducted, Long Term Missing Children … 92
Role of Support Mechanisms …………………………………………… 92
Role of Emotional Responses ………………………………………… 97
Role of Work/Employment …………………………………………………… 102
Role of the Media …………………………………………………………………… 103
Perceived Coping Strategies ………………………………………… 104
Coping Strategies …………………………………………………………………… 109
Parents of Murdered Children …………………………………………………… 114
Role of Support Mechanisms …………………………………………… 115
Role of Emotional Responses ………………………………………… 121
Role of Work/Employment …………………………………………………… 130
Role of the Media …………………………………………………………………… 132
Perceived Coping Strategies ………………………………………… 134
Coping Strategies …………………………………………………………………… 143
Cross-Case Analysis ……………………………………………………………………………… 148
Role of Support Mechanisms …………………………………………… 149
Role of Emotional Responses ………………………………………… 155
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Page
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Role of Work/Employment …………………………………………………… 157
Role of the Media …………………………………………………………………… 159
Perceived Coping Strategies ………………………………………… 161
Coping Strategies …………………………………………………………………… 164

DISCUSSION ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 167

Discussion of the Results ……………………………………………… 167
Limitations of the Study ………………………………………………… 173
Validity …………………………………………………………………………………………… 176
Suggestions for Future Research ……………………………… 182
REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 184
APPENDICES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 193
A. Contact Letter from the NCMEC/FL …………………………………………… 193
B. Contact Letter from the Researcher ……………………………………… 194
C. Form: Informed Consent ……………………………………………………………………… 195
D. Form: Informed Consent to Audio-Record …………………………… 196
E. Interview Questions ……………………………………………………………………………… 197

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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page

3.1 Characteristics of the Abducted, Long-term
Missing Group …………………………………………………………………………………………… 42

3.2 Characteristics of the Murdered Group …………………………… 43
4.1 Coding ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 92
4.2 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
Support Mechanisms of PALTMC ……………………………………… 93

4.3 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
the Five Dominant Emotional Responses of
PALTMC ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 99

4.4 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
Work/Employment of PALTMC ……………………………………………………………… 103

4.5 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
the Media for PALTMC …………………………………………………………… 104

4.6 Within-Case Analysis of Coping Strategies
Used by PALTMC …………………………………………………………………………… 110

4.7 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
Support Mechanisms of POMC …………………………………………… 116

4.8 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of the
Five Dominant Emotional Responses of POMC …… 122

4.9 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
Work/Employment of POMC …………………………………………………………………… 131

4.10 Within-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
the Media for POMC ………………………………………………………………… 133

4.11 Within-Case Analysis of Coping Strategies
Used by POMC ………………………………………………………………………………… 143

4.12 Cross-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
Support Mechanisms ………………………………………………………………… 149

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LIST OF TABLES (continued)

Table Page

4.13 Cross-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
the Five Dominant Emotional Responses for
Each Group ……………………………………………………………………………………… 156

4.14 Cross-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
Work/Employment ……………………………………………………………………………………… 157

4.15 Cross-Case Analysis Assessing the Role of
the Media ………………………………………………………………………………………… 160

4.16 Cross-Case Analysis of Coping Strategies:
Similarities and Differences ……………………………………… 164

LIST OF FIGURES
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Figure Page
3.1 Geographic Location – State in which the
Offense Occurred ……………………………………………………………………… 43

5.1 The Impact of Resolution on Coping
Mechanisms ……………………………………………………………………………………… 169

Ultimate Coping Strategies: The Differences Among Parents
of Murdered or Abducted, Long-Term Missing Children
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The murder or abduction of a child is an experience
that profoundly alters one’s life. Parents of murdered and
abducted, long-term missing children find themselves in a
world turned upside down. The loss is complicated by a
variety of consequences that are minimized through the use
of coping strategies. It is not uncommon for the healing
process to last months or years. Those parents who are
faced with the sudden abduction or murder of a child
encounter an immediate demand to respond to bereavement
issues and coping strategies (Sprang, McNeil, & Wright,
1989).
The recent increase of public and legislative
awareness has brought the issues of crimes against children
to prominence. This increased awareness has resulted in
some positive changes: public consciousness, better
reporting procedures, improved investigative responsiveness
and strengthened legislative reaction. “However, research
concerning the abduction and murder of children remains
scarce” (Boudreaux, M. C., Lord, W. D., & Dutra, R. L,
1997).
Purpose of the Research
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to
assess, through naturalistic inquiry, the differences in
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