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Navigating the Ambiguous Loss and Frozen Time of the Kidnappees' Families and Their Helpers.

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Title: Navigating the Ambiguous Loss and Frozen Time of the Kidnappees' Families and Their Helpers.
Authors: Paryente, Bilha (AUTHOR), Ben-Asher, Smadar (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Loss & Trauma. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 31 Issue 3/4, p368-389. 22p.
Subjects: Families & psychology, Kidnapping, Hostages, Patients' families, Medical personnel, Qualitative research, Public officers, Psychological burnout, Interviewing, Psychological adaptation, Uncertainty, Decision making, Emotional trauma, Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Despair, Psychological stress, Psychology of caregivers, Grief, Social support, Hope
Geographic Terms: Israel
Abstract: The study examined the struggles of the kidnappees' families and their helpers through two theoretical concepts: ambiguous loss and frozen time. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with three key groups: family members of hostages (n = 5), professional caregivers (n = 2), and former diplomats (n = 3) who assisted the families in establishing international connections to facilitate the kidnappees' release. Our findings revealed three overlapping temporal dimensions: Parallel Time (simultaneous hope and despair), Presumed Dead Time (gradual acceptance of possible death), and Perpetual Time (endless uncertainty). We introduced the concepts of "stolen time" (irretrievable lost moments) and "frozen time" (psychological immobilization), and documented a significant ripple effect, where families' temporal distress extended outward to affect supporting professionals and systems. This research advances theoretical understanding of ambiguous loss as not merely an individual experience but a dynamic, socially-embedded phenomenon that disrupts temporal perception in multiple circles of proximity. The study has implications for professional training, institutional support systems, and policy development for service providers working with families experiencing unresolved trauma and loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Loss & Trauma is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Navigating the Ambiguous Loss and Frozen Time of the Kidnappees' Families and Their Helpers.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paryente%2C+Bilha%22">Paryente, Bilha</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ben-Asher%2C+Smadar%22">Ben-Asher, Smadar</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Loss+%26+Trauma%22">Journal of Loss & Trauma</searchLink>. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 31 Issue 3/4, p368-389. 22p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Families+%26+psychology%22">Families & psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kidnapping%22">Kidnapping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hostages%22">Hostages</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patients'+families%22">Patients' families</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+personnel%22">Medical personnel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+officers%22">Public officers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+burnout%22">Psychological burnout</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+adaptation%22">Psychological adaptation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Uncertainty%22">Uncertainty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+making%22">Decision making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotional+trauma%22">Emotional trauma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Despair%22">Despair</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+stress%22">Psychological stress</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+caregivers%22">Psychology of caregivers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grief%22">Grief</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hope%22">Hope</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Israel%22">Israel</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: The study examined the struggles of the kidnappees' families and their helpers through two theoretical concepts: ambiguous loss and frozen time. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with three key groups: family members of hostages (n = 5), professional caregivers (n = 2), and former diplomats (n = 3) who assisted the families in establishing international connections to facilitate the kidnappees' release. Our findings revealed three overlapping temporal dimensions: Parallel Time (simultaneous hope and despair), Presumed Dead Time (gradual acceptance of possible death), and Perpetual Time (endless uncertainty). We introduced the concepts of "stolen time" (irretrievable lost moments) and "frozen time" (psychological immobilization), and documented a significant ripple effect, where families' temporal distress extended outward to affect supporting professionals and systems. This research advances theoretical understanding of ambiguous loss as not merely an individual experience but a dynamic, socially-embedded phenomenon that disrupts temporal perception in multiple circles of proximity. The study has implications for professional training, institutional support systems, and policy development for service providers working with families experiencing unresolved trauma and loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Loss & Trauma is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193490087
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/15325024.2025.2522699
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 368
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Families & psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kidnapping
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hostages
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patients' families
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical personnel
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public officers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological burnout
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Uncertainty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decision making
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotional trauma
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Despair
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological stress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of caregivers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grief
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hope
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Israel
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Navigating the Ambiguous Loss and Frozen Time of the Kidnappees' Families and Their Helpers.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
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          Name:
            NameFull: Paryente, Bilha
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ben-Asher, Smadar
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar/Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
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              Value: 31
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3/4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Loss & Trauma
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