The lived experience of bereaved Iranian families with COVID-19 grief

Death Stud. 2023;47(4):381-391. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2068698. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Abstract

The present study investigated the lived experience of bereaved family members from grief due to COVID-19 using descriptive phenomenological method via in-depth interviews. The participants (N = 30) were spouses, children, parents, and siblings of the deceased. The obtained data from interviewing were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. Eight main themes were obtained. Findings suggest that society is confronted with the prolonged grief on a large scale and has put people in an existential experience situation. Different experiences, which have led to creation of new meaning in loss and life, has been able to help some post-traumatic growth in the bereaved.

MeSH terms

  • Bereavement
  • COVID-19* / mortality
  • Family* / psychology
  • Grief*
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology