Final Year Project

Project Title

Rebuilding the Self: A Phenomenological Study on Resilience in Young Adults Following Adolescent Bereavement in Karachi, Pakistan

Description

Bereavement during adolescence, a transformative stage of cognitive, emotional, and social development, can disrupt an individuals sense of identity as well as their short- and long-term stability. Resilience, viewed as the ability to adapt and thrive in adversity, plays a crucial role in coping with such loss during this phase. However, the resilience displayed by bereaved adolescents in Karachi, Pakistan, remains largely unacknowledged and underexplored. This study adopts a phenomenological approach to amplify the voices of young adults who lost an immediate family member (parent or sibling) during adolescence. Framed within resilience theory, the research investigates how resilience manifests not only as an outcome but also as an ongoing process, identifying individual-level and environmental factors, specifically informal and formal support networks, that contribute to its development. The study offers recommendations for policymakers, educational institutions, and communities to provide accessible resources that facilitate the healthy transition from adolescence to young adulthood.