Wished For and Avoided Conversations With Terminally Ill Individuals During Final Conversations

SMC Author

Mark Generous

SMC Affiliated Work

1

Author Role

co-author

Status

Faculty

School

School of Liberal Arts

Department

Communication

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Publication / Conference / Sponsorship

Death Studies

Publisher/Venue

Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis LTD

Description/Abstract

The current investigation examines retrospectively wished for and avoided conversations during the end of life with a deceased relational partner. Participants reported on conversations they wished they had engaged in and conversations that they intentionally avoided, as well as reasons why they did not engage in the conversations. Analyses revealed the following wished for and avoided conversations: negative relationship characteristics; death and dying; postdeath arrangements; and personal information. Furthermore, participants indicated the following reasons for not discussing the aforementioned topics during final conversations: emotional protection, relational differences, and condition of the dying. Theoretical and practical implications for end-oflife communication are discussed.

DOI

10.1080/07481187.2016.1236850

ISSN

07481187

Volume

41

Issue

3

First Page

162

Last Page

172

Disciplines

Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Original Citation

Generous, M. A., & Keeley, M. P. “Wished for and avoided conversations with terminally ill individuals during final conversations.” Death Studies, 41(3) 162-171. 2017. 10.1080/07481187.2016.1236850.

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