Restructuring life after home loss by fire.

Abstract

When fire destroys a home, victims endure the disorientation, feelings of helplessness, sadness, and depletion that are engendered by privation and the problem of restructuring their lives. The research questions in this grounded theory study were: How do victims process losing their homes to fires? and How does social ritual connect with their needs? With a sample of 113 people from eight countries we found that, despite the seriousness of the problems victims face, social ritual guides support. In many instances, this ritual dictates support that is short-term and only loosely related to the actual needs of victims. In other words, the support that victims receive is determined by social ritual rather than need. We have named this, "Ritual-Support Connection," the dimensions of which are (a) connected support, (b) unconnected support, and (c) disconnected support. In a noncomforting social framework, victims must integrate the salient life event of home loss by fire, through a process we have named "restructuring life." Two dimensions of restructuring are limiting grief displays and developing new rituals. New rituals include benchmarking, taking precautions, and becoming expert.