Childhood Mourning among Orphaned Children: A Clinical Study of Two Cases in the School Environment in Laghouat City

Abstract

This clinical study aimed to explore the nature of "Mourning Work" (Work of Mourning) among orphaned children. It was based on the hypothesis that the loss of a parent may lead to pathological mourning, manifested in psychological and behavioral disorders resulting from ego fragility and the difficulty of reinvesting the "lost object."

The study employed the clinical method (case study), involving two children (a male and a female) aged 6 to 12 years in the city of Laghouat, selected through purposive sampling. To achieve the study's objectives, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the caregivers, in addition to the administration of the Rorschach test as a projective tool to uncover deep-seated psychological conflicts.

The findings confirmed the validity of the hypothesis, as projective analyses and interviews revealed that both cases suffered from pathological mourning and an inability to overcome the loss. In the first case (female), mourning manifested as withdrawal behaviors, a pathological attachment to the father’s memory, and regressive tendencies such as enuresis. In the second case (male), the effects of psychological trauma predominated, manifesting as temper tantrums, aggression, and hyperactivity. Both cases shared a decline in academic achievement. The study concluded that the loss of a parental pillar at this developmental stage leads to a disturbance in the psychological structure that hinders ego maturation and adaptation.