Healing by helping: a qualitative study of ways of helping and helping gains among shidu parents (parents who lost their only child) in China

In this study, we explore ways of helping and helping gains among parents who have lost their only child (shidu parents) by analysing textual materials provided by 10 shidu parents during one-on-one life review interviews. The findings show that shidu parents help others in both individual and organised ways. By helping others, shidu parents receive positive feedback, enrich their lives, feel self-worth, experience a sense of belonging in helping groups, and reconstruct their understanding of life after their child’s death. Shidu parents achieve healing by helping others. More opportunities should be created for shidu parents to participate in helping others. Social workers may help shidu parents recognise the win‒win value of helping others and provide targeted support, such as resource connection, emotional accompaniment, or skill guidance, during their helping activities.