摘要：In hierdie bydrae word die fenomeen van eensaamheid wat deur vroue ervaar word na die verlies van 'n lewensmaat ondersoek. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die ervaring van eensaamheid sowel as die voorkoms en betekenis daarvan te verhelder en te interpreteer. Implikasies word ondersoek volgens die wyse waarop dit ervaar word. Die navorsing is gefundeer in praktiese teologie en nagevors vanuit postmoderniteit as paradigma met 'n sosiaal konstruksionistiese diskoers as epistemologiese vertrekpunt. Deur gebruik te maak van die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering word verskeie aksies vir die insameling van data benut. Die navorsing word verder gerig deur die gebruik van meganismes van die narratiewe benadering, wat goed resoneer met die beginsels onderliggend aan deelnemende aksie-navorsing. Vanuit die gespreksbenadering word betekenisvolle alternatiewe, wat 'n bydrae kan lewer in die hantering van eensaamheid, verken en beskryf. Die vernaamste bevindings van die studie is dat vroue wel eensaamheid kan ondervind na die verlies van 'n eggenoot en dat hulle 'n behoefte het aan 'n verbintenisfiguur om hulle te help om hul eensaamheid te hanteer.
其他摘要：In this contribution the phenomenon of loneliness experienced by women after the loss of a spouse is explored. The purpose of this research is to clarify and interpret the experience of loneliness as well as its occurrence and meaning. Implications are examined according to the way in which it is experienced. The research is founded in practical theology and researched from within a postmodernity paradigm, with a social constructionist discourse as epistemological point of departure. By employing the qualitative research approach, different courses of action are used for collecting data for the research. Principles underpinning participatory action research are employed as part of a qualitative research method. The research is further informed by using mechanisms of the narrative approach which correlate well with the principles of participatory action research. This conversational approach is used to explore and describe meaningful alternatives to cope with loneliness. The main findings of the research are that women do experience loneliness after the loss of a spouse and that they have a need for an attachment figure to help them to cope with the loneliness.
