Digital mutual aid narrative healing practices: Solace among bereaved Shidu older adults in China

AI Summary

Online mutual aid groups enable bereaved Shidu older adults to move from silent suffering to reconstructed meaning, restoring life narrative coherence and belonging.
Repeated digital storytelling and empathetic interactions transform private grief into a shared emotional experience that supports ongoing social healing.
Digital narratives alleviate psychological distress and rebuild support networks, offering theoretical and practical guidance for digital mental health in ageing societies.

Death Stud. 2026 Jul 21:1-15. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2704584. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

China is undergoing significant demographic changes and social transformation. Shidu older adults, defined as individuals aged 60 and above who have lost their only child under the one-child policy and have not had or adopted another, experience profound psychological trauma and identity disruption. Traditional support systems offer limited assistance. In contrast, online social platforms present new opportunities for grief expression and empathetic engagement. This study employs narrative analysis and digital text analysis to examine language practices and interactional patterns in online mutual aid groups. The findings suggest that digital storytelling facilitates a transition from silent suffering to the reconstruction of meaning. Through repeated narration, participants restore coherence to their life stories and regain a sense of belonging within collective narratives. Ongoing interactions contribute to a system of social healing in which grief becomes a shared emotional experience. The study demonstrates that digital narratives can alleviate psychological distress and support the regeneration of social support networks. These findings have theoretical implications for emotional care and digital mental health interventions in aging societies.

PMID:42480092 | DOI:10.1080/07481187.2026.2704584

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