The Role of Vietnamese Mourning Culture in Grief Symptomatology – A Study Protocol

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Losing a loved one is a universal and inevitable part of life; however, the way that bereaved individuals grieve and cope with loss varies between cultures. Culturally bound symptoms of disordered grief often go unnoticed when assessed with Western-developed diagnostic tools. Additionally, culturally significant funerals and rituals to be carried out during the mourning period may serve an important role in defining the expression and presentation of grief. Funeral and mourning activities following the death of a family member in Viet Nam span over one year, consisting of rituals to be carried out forty-nine days, one hundred days, and one-year post-loss. No previous study has assessed the course of grief symptoms of Vietnamese bereaved throughout the mourning period using a culturally adapted scale. This paper describes the protocol for the research that aims to examine the possible protective and supportive role of traditions, rituals, and other ceremonies for bereaved individuals. The results are expected to reveal that participating in ritual activities predicts a better grief trajectory. These results would suggest the consideration of cultural contexts in the assessment and treatment of pathological grief. The project would not only contribute to the cross-cultural understanding of grief but also highlight the importance of local cultural practices in grief recovery.