This phenomenological study explores the emotional responses and coping mechanisms of adolescents who have experienced pet loss. The purposes of this study are to explore adolescents’ grief experiences in responsing to pets loss, to identify the impacts of pets loss on adolescents, and to understand coping mechanisms that adolescents applied to manage the emotions while grieving over pets loss. This study adopted qualitative methodology. The data was collected by interviewing two participants and reviewing their reflective journals. Using thematic analysis, the findings indicated that adolescents viewed their pets as part of the family; they experienced both physical and mental impacts following the loss; the loss was often unvalidated by others; and adolescents coped by maintaining a continuing bond with their pets after death. In conclusion, pet loss is emotionally significant for adolescents and must be validated and supported to facilitate their recovery.
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