Experience Of Grief Research Articles

Measuring the outcomes of support provided to people after a suicide or other sudden bereavement: A scoping review

Systematic collection of outcome measures within suicide bereavement support is vital in building the sector’s evidence base. However, there is currently limited understanding around the appropriate and sensitive use of outcome measures. Following the scoping review methodology, a literature review was undertaken to map how programs and interventions that assist individuals bereaved by suicide or other sudden, traumatic deaths gather outcome measures. The search strategy identified 1145 papers, of which 49 met the inclusion criteria. The review identified many ways that outcomes are captured, with custom tools being commonplace. Among standardized tools, the Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) emerged as frequently used. Most articles provided some form of justification for their chosen outcome measure methodology, often citing psychometric robustness over consideration of the impact on service users. The review underscores the need for careful consideration when selecting outcome measure tools or approaches in sudden death bereavement interventions.

Men's mourning experiences for the death of a loved one: An integrative review.

To analyze the current state of knowledge regarding men's mourning experiences following the death of a loved one. An integrative review was conducted using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies published in English or Spanish between 2017 and 2022 that investigated men's mourning experiences. Studies focused on grief in participants with different sexes or gender identities, maladaptive grief, persistent complex bereavement disorder, prolonged grief disorder, bereavement over pets, or losses other than a human death were excluded. Additionally, reviews, books, theses, editorials, and opinion pieces were not included. The search was conducted in CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus in 2023. JBI tools were used for quality appraisal, and the analysis employed the constant comparative method. Our analysis of eight English-language documents with evidence levels IV-VI, informed by the Socioecological Model of Men's Grief, revealed that factors at individual, interpersonal, community, and public policy sublevels interact significantly to shape men's grief experiences. Themes emerged along a continuum of intuitive and instrumental coping responses, including adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, loneliness and social support needs, the influence of societal constructions of masculinity and the grieving process in men. Men's mourning experiences are complex and multifaceted, influenced by diverse expressions of masculinity and the interaction of various contextual factors. The Mental Health Nursing Process should prioritize understanding and addressing the unique experiences of bereaved men.

"Nobody Knew . . . What Was Gonna Happen": Indigenous Loss and Grief During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Indigenous peoples have experienced higher rates of loss and death compared to the general population, partly due to historical loss. This qualitative inquiry focused on understanding Indigenous women's experiences of loss, grief, and death during the COVID-19 pandemic, involving 31 head-of-household Native American women from a southeastern US tribe. Reconstructive analysis of data from a community-based critical ethnography identified the following themes spanning the ecological levels of the FHORT: (a) loss of finances, (b) loss of structure and loss of self, (c) death due to COVID-19, (d) disrupted mourning and burial rituals, and (e) grief and extensive losses. Results indicate that the pandemic not only exacerbated historical loss, but interventions and models for working through grief and loss should not only be culturally tailored and promote healing across all ecological domains and include physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects, but should also address historical trauma, collectivist values, and traditional ways.

Vicarious death: Grief, politics, and identity after the flight PS752 tragedy.

In January 2020, Ukrainian Flight PS752 was shot down shortly after take-off from Tehran's IKA airport, killing all 176 passengers, the majority of whom were headed to Canada via connecting flights. In the aftermath of the tragedy, many among the Iranian diaspora in Canada, ourselves included, were stricken by an unexpectedly deep sense of shock and sorrow, to the point that some experienced what we term as "vicarious death." Drawing on 49 in-depth interviews with the Iranian diaspora in Edmonton, this study explores questions about how being an immigrant, being far from "Home," and being a member of a racialized group might shape and deepen the experience of collective grief and how, conversely, collective grief might influence the meaning of "Home" and bring into question one's ethno-national self-identity. Our results present a multi-dimensional, sociological understanding of grief as a collective, rather than individualistic, experience and highlight the complexity and depth of emotional experiences among immigrants.

Working with Absent Presences: Disappearances and Materiality in Post-War Sri Lanka

This paper is about affective potencies of materiality that aid grieving war-related disappearances in post-war Sri Lanka. Based on ethnographic narratives of those who have lost someone to disappearance during the 1983-2009 civil war, the paper questions the nonrepresentationality of traumatic grief and problems with established processes and practices of grieving in cases of disappearances. It also elucidates how survivor’s affective experiences of grief are ever-evolving, both subjective and objective, personal and political. The paper explores the polymorphous and potentiating nature of materiality as a means to address otherwise non-representational and ever-evolving grief, highlighting how materiality assists grieving the disappeared specifically by bringing the missing to the forefront.

SWALLOWING THE PAIN: THE EFFECT OF CONDOLENCE CULTURE ON TRAUMA AND GRIEF EXPERIENCE

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the rituals that are considered appropriate by Turkish society during the condolence and mourning process of individuals who experience loss on the individual during and after the condolence and mourning process. Method: This qualitative research is based on the interpretive phenomenological approach. A total of 22 participants who had lost a family member within the last five years and were identified as bereaved were included in the study. Results: The data obtained from the participants were analyzed using the content analysis method and six themes were identified: Swallowing Pain, Idealized Rituals Creating Trauma, Cultural Mourning Rituals Transferred between Generations, Dreams Turning into Nightmares, Revived Traumatic Memories, and Rituals Affecting Cultural Beliefs and Life Functions. Conclusion: These findings show that condolence and mourning rituals practiced after loss in Turkey negatively affect individuals experiences of death, pain, and grief.

Crafting Subverses: A Narrative Analysis of the Experience of Losing a Parent through Intimate Partner Homicide

Abstract Purpose Losing a parent due to intimate partner homicide is a traumatic experience, exacerbated by homicide and the associated grief being a taboo in many western cultures. This study investigated the experiences of young people and adults bereaved by parental intimate partner homicide during childhood, to gain a better understanding of how they make sense of and share their personal story after such a loss. Methods Within the context of a larger study, we conducted twelve semi-structured interviews with people with lived experience of such deaths in Australia and used narrative analysis to interpret the data. Results Participants were frequently confronted with imposed narratives (i.e., from family, practitioners, peers) about the homicide, their parents, and their own identities, leading to a deep sense of loneliness and feeling misunderstood, powerless, and silenced. In various ways, participants resisted imposed narratives and took control over their stories. This process was difficult but could lead to improved and more authentic relationships with oneself, family, and others. In this way, participants used their experiences to transform themselves and others, sometimes by becoming advocates or practitioners supporting others with similar experiences. Conclusions We named this process of taking control of one’s story “crafting subverses.” It involved making sense of and sharing experiences of trauma and grief for personal healing and social justice. Helping children craft their “subverses” may be an important aspect of gaining a deeper understanding of how to support them. Provision of carefully tailored peer mentoring, professional support and opportunities to influence programs and policy appear key to better support systems for those bereaved due to parental intimate partner homicide.

Transparency in action or political fiction? The pre-inquiry phase of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry

AbstractThis article examines how public inquiries come into being through a detailed analysis of the pre-inquiry phase of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry. We focus on two key points of contestation—around the timing of the inquiry and its terms of reference—and suggest that what is at stake during the pre-stage of an inquiry is its ontological and epistemological orientation. Our analysis traces the emergence of two distinct positions during this phase: a grassroots position (conceiving of the inquiry as a response to the experience of collective grief) and an official position (conceiving of the inquiry as a means of learning lessons). Particular attention is given to the latter position and what it reveals about the rhetorical function of transparency in confirming a political commitment to institutional accountability, at the same time as working towards a particular conception of the inquiry as a practical task, expansive in remit, and future oriented.

The Experiences of Grief in Bereaved Women Following the Death of Their Husbands During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Qom, Iran: A Phenomenological Study

Background and Objectives: The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult and stressful life events in the world. The effects of death caused by COVID-19 on the mental health of individuals and families are of great importance. This study aims to elucidate the experience of grief in bereaved women following the death of their husbands due to COVID-19 in Qom, Iran. Methods: In this phenomenological study, 12 bereaved women were selected using a purposive sampling method. The information was collected using semi-structured interviews until reaching data saturation. Results: The data analysis led to the extraction of 3 main themes and 10 sub-themes: Complicated grief (ambiguous loss, farewell with no embrace, grieving alone), unconventional grief (strange death, deviation from religious burial customs, virtual mourning), and grief outcome (spiritual experiences, moral panic, social stigma, distrust in healthcare providers). Conclusion: The grief of bereaved women due to the death of their husbands by COVID-19 differs from their mourning for the death caused by other diseases in two aspects. Firstly, according to the majority of women, the cause of death was unclear. This situation intensified their grieving and mourning. Secondly, due to the specific nature of COVID-19 and the necessity of quarantine, they were restricted from having funeral and religious mourning rituals according to the prevalent culture, which resulted in an incomplete mourning process. Gaining spiritual experiences is one positive aspect of grief in women. It is recommended to provide support and care by the healthcare system during pandemics for families, especially bereaved women, to reduce the negative effects of grief.

Driven by Purpose: Exploring Spirituality in Black Mothers’ Coping with Loss of Children to Gun Homicide

The death of a Black child to gun homicide presents unique and ongoing coping challenges for Black parents. Current studies have provided insights into the role of spirituality in facilitating adjustment after homicide loss. However, the extent to which spirituality serves as a viable coping resource for Black mothers, who are disproportionately affected by gun homicide deaths of their children, remains unexplored. This exploratory phenomenological study explored the role of spirituality as a healing resource in 15 Black mothers’ grief experiences following the loss of their children to gun homicide. Thematic analysis revealed the role of spirituality in helping Black mothers find purpose in their loss. Following the loss of their children, mothers’ spiritual values enabled them to come to the realization that the deaths served a purpose. Spirituality served as the fuel to strengthen and renew their purpose in their grief journey. Gun homicide grief experience is an entanglement of systemic inequality and racial oppression. Exploring spirituality as a coping resource in the grieving experiences of Black survivors serves as an opportunity for enhancing community-based, culturally relevant, and spiritually-informed interventions, to adequately meet their coping needs.

Does Meaning-Making Mediate COVID-19 Restrictions' Impact on Grief and Psychological Symptoms?

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed substantial restrictions on funeral ceremonies, profoundly affecting grief experiences. This study investigated the mediating role of meaning-making in the relationship between these restrictions and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms, anxiety, depression, and trauma. A longitudinal study involving 141 bereaved individuals was conducted, with assessments at two time points: 3-6months (T1) and 9-12months (T2) post-loss. Structural equation modeling revealed that the psychological impact of restrictions on death and funeral ceremonies had indirect effects on anxiety and prolonged grief symptoms through meaning-making, particularly the footing in the world subscale. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the complex interplay between pandemic-related restrictions and grief experiences, emphasizing the pivotal role of meaning-making in adapting to loss during those challenging times.

Experiences of Animal Loss and Grief among Zoo Professionals and Volunteers: A Qualitative Study.

Zoo professionals and volunteers play essential roles in the wellbeing and conservation of a diverse array of animal species. Despite the growing body of literature revealing the psychological impacts of pet loss, there remains a dearth of information describing the experience of animal loss among those who work in zoo settings. This qualitative study explored the personal experiences of zoo animal loss among volunteers (n = 12), animal care and health professionals (ACHPs) (n = 135), and other zoo staff (n = 35) who participated in a larger mixed-method study. Participants responded to five open-ended questions exploring their most significant zoo animal death loss, where or from whom they found the most support, how the zoo community could better support them, advice for zoo leaders, and other thoughts about their grief and animal-related loss experiences. Using thematic analysis, two key themes were identified: the lasting toll of zoo animal loss and zoo professionals' and volunteers' interpersonal experiences. Participants described their experiences with animal transfers and both expected and unexpected deaths. Requests for support focused on better communication, grief resources, and opportunities to recognize and mourn animal losses. These findings suggest that zoo animal loss can negatively impact zoo professionals' and volunteers' psychological health.

Journeys into palliative care: Social workers' narratives of mobilising and sustaining practice

INTRODUCTION: With Aotearoa, New Zealand's increasing diversity and ageing population, social work has a vital role in palliative care practice. This study advances the understanding of palliative care social work and its implications for practice, education and support from a practitioners’ point of view. METHODS: Utilising a constructivist case study approach, in-depth data was collected from social work practitioners about their pathways and practices in palliative care. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed, resulting in 12 individual semi-structured interviews and a focus group with 5 participants. FINDINGS: The participants' voices illustrate current social work practice and its implications from personal, pedagogical, and professional perspectives. Participants were often drawn to palliative care social work through career embeddedness and personal experiences of loss and grief. The study revealed how past, present, and future considerations shape palliative social work practice, including journeys to palliative care, mobilising social work practice, and sustaining support. Participants used various assessment tools based on service context, with limited exposure to palliative care in tertiary curricula. Most participants continued to seek post-qualifying professional development opportunities working in this field. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the importance of team support, ongoing education, and self-care for effective social work practice in palliative care. Recommendations include enhancing educational emphasis on palliative care, developing a New Zealand-based assessment tool for palliative care social work, and improving professional encounters related to death and dying. These insights can guide efforts to enhance palliative care social work practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Enabling biographical repair and recovery through beekeeping

ABSTRACT Beekeeping has a long tradition in Slovenia and other parts of the world. It is often associated with concrete outcomes such as therapeutic bee products; but little is known about its less tangible dimensions connected with human-animal interactions. In this study, interpretive phenomenology was used to explore the meaning making and lived experiences of six beekeepers living with a chronic neurological condition. Participants shared their experiences through interviews which were conducted by a fellow beekeeper-researcher. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop two main themes that described a lifelong relationship with beekeeping and changes in times of illness. These included new ways of doing and perceiving the occupation of beekeeping and the enhanced meaning that was developed when faced with health challenges. The participants’ stories showed a gradual path to reconciliation and new normality through occupation, which included both experiences of grief when the bees had to be reprioritised and feelings of joy when they returned to spending time with and caring for the bees, albeit in adapted ways. The findings provide further insights into biographical repair from an occupational perspective and help to situate occupational science in a new geographical context, which may have specific characteristics considering the nature of valued occupations and connections with non-human species.

"Grief Explodes all Relationships": Experiences of Grief and Coping Among Parents and Siblings Following the Death of a Child.

The death of a child is an intense loss for families, which impacts the wellbeing of parents, surviving siblings, and the family as a whole. This study expanded on existing literature by collecting qualitative accounts from bereaved parents and siblings about their experiences before, during, and after the death of a child in their family. In total, 15 participants from 9 families completed semi-structured interviews. Findings highlighted three periods of the grieving process, which were not linear but rather ongoing and often happening simultaneously: (1) Crisis; (2) Learning to cope; and (3) Establishment of a new equilibrium. Parents and siblings reported experiences unique to their role in the family and developmental stage, as well as shared experiences within the family system. Findings have implications for palliative care and bereavement professionals in terms of supporting parent, sibling, and family coping before, during, and after the death of a child.

Working with carer grief in community palliative care nursing.

Community nurses (CN), both generalist and palliative care-specific, are key to supporting the carer with their experience of grief. To identify the grief-related needs of carers and the capacity of CNs to provide for those needs. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study which employed i) a needs questionnaire among carers of palliative care patients who had recently died; ii) a qualitative interview study among carers and iii) a questionnaire among CNs which canvassed their confidence and skills in working with carer grief. In the carer survey, just one-third of carers reported engagement with CNs regarding prolonged and anticipatory grief. In the CN survey, low confidence and skill regarding supporting carers with their grief was reported. CNs with palliative care training were more confident and knowledgeable than generalist CNs. Despite offering high ratings for CN compassion and overall quality of support during the dying process, grief support was reported by carers to be missing from their experience of CN care. The role of CNs in providing for the grief-related needs of carers is yet to be established.

The Vitalistic Ecology of Death: An Autoethnographic Journey Through Bereavement and Loss

With this autoethnography, it is my intention to explore experiences of bereavement and loss through the diffractive lenses of cultural intra-actions with literary texts, narratives, and sensory affordances. Bringing my own biographic experience of grief into these pages allows me, as a researcher, to make sense of death and its rituals, fundamental for healing purposes. I wonder: What does the affective materiality of bereaving do? My lived experience helps me to connect empathically and compassionately to events by looking at how society went through the impossibility of delivering care to the dead and their families during COVID-19 lockdowns and by questioning the “crisis of care.” To conclude, I reflect on how autoethnography can be a sensemaking process, leading to healing, opening to reflexivity, and reaching out to socially relevant questions about practices and ethics of care.

Memory, Mourning, and the Chilean Constitution

The present paper investigates and provides an account of the feeling of grief evidenced in certain sectors of the Chilean population after the electoral defeat following the constitutional plebiscite of September 2022 in Chile. How can one experience grief at the rejection of a political referendum? We suggest that the experience of grief is importantly related to a loss of life possibilities and disruptions in one’s practical identity. The outpouring of grief experienced by many Chileans at this political loss can be traced to the importance of the constitutional plebiscite for their identities. The grieving process involves a renegotiation, through memory and future oriented imagination, of past, present, and future aspects of one’s practical identity.

Employing Expressive Art to Explore Mexican Americans’ Grief Experiences of Loss Due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic changed people’s lives and resulted in tremendous pain, loss and suffering. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV), in the state of Texas in the U.S., was one of the regions with the highest number of infections and deaths during the pandemic. However, individuals’ bereavement in the RGV is rarely addressed. In this qualitative study, a snowball sample of 47 individuals who had lost their loved ones during the years 2020–2021 were interviewed and invited to engage in an art activity. The findings revealed four themes: peculiar funeral, grieving confusion, loved ones’ memories, and connection to self and the lost one through art. Results indicate that the collective aspect of the funeral was disrupted during the pandemic and created emotional numbness and denial. The intensity of grieving did not decrease with time. The participants mainly relied on their family support and rarely sought professional help. A culturally adapted intervention is needed to address long-term bereavement in this community. Analysis of the art activities indicated that all participants had a feeling of peace and relief afterward, especially male participants who had difficulty expressing their emotions. The participants reported that the artwork positively affected their grievances and that the process was satisfying.

Online news coverage of migrants’ grief at a distance during COVID-19: A qualitative framing analysis

Grieving at a distance is a common and often challenging experience for migrants. As a result of travel restrictions and border closures, grieving at a distance became a focus of media reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aimed to examine the representation of migrants’ grief at a distance during the pandemic in online newspaper articles. We used a qualitative framing analysis to analyze nine articles published in online international newspapers. Three frames were identified: Grief as an impossible situation, migrants left with impossible choices, and grief as culturally mediated. These frames focused on how the psychological experience of grief was intertwined with migrants’ broader societal and cultural contexts. They emphasized the complex choices migrants faced due to their personal situations and cross-cultural experiences. Findings offer insights into how the media depicts migrant experiences, thus shaping public perceptions of their grief and bereavement. They reveal the difficulties of transnational grief migrants experienced.