Culture and grief: Ethnographic perspectives on ritual, relationships and remembering

Silverman, Gila S.; Baroiller, Aurélien; Hemer, Susan R.

doi:10.1080/07481187.2020.1851885

Cited by 55 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Grief is a universal experience, but sociocultural factors, such as cultural or ethnic identity and religious beliefs predict and shape the expression of grief [ 2 ]. Traditional funeral and burial rites offer a venue for the culturally and psychologically appropriate expression of loss-related emotions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The grief experience during the COVID-19 pandemic across different cultures

et al. 2022

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Grief is the physical or mental suffering experienced after a major loss, usually the death of a loved one. It is a universal experience, but sociocultural factors, such as cultural or ethnic identity and religious beliefs predict and shape the expression of grief. The circumstances under which people are experiencing grief during the coronavirus outbreak have adversely affected the grieving process. Unexpected deaths, social distancing rules and visitor restrictions in healthcare facilities have posed a heavier burden on the loss and have heightened the risk of grievers experiencing complicated or persistent grief. This concern led us, as early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from 14 different countries connected by the Early Career Psychiatrists Section of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), to share our country-specific experiences on the mourning, grief tradition, and burial rites during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we discuss our experiences, similarities and differences with relation to the: ‘Effect of the pandemic on mourning’, ‘Restrictions and Guideline on burial rites due to the pandemic’, ‘Effect of the pandemic on social support’ and ‘Role of media and telecommunication on mourning practices and burial rites’. We conclude that while telecommunication means have attempted to bridge the gap and provide some form of social connectedness, the total and global effect of the pandemic is yet to be fully seen and understood.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The grief experience during the COVID-19 pandemic across different cultures

et al. 2022

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“…Scheper-Hughes (1993), in turn, has shown how the experience of grief is also subject to politics and structural inequalities. These works continue to resonate in recent additions in the anthropology of death and grief, such as the work of Silverman et al (2020), who further elaborate on the cultural dynamics of emotions in grief, and the normativities in the relationship between the living and the dead. Contributing to this field of grief research, I discuss in this article the lived experiences of anticipatory grief-grief that occurs before, and in anticipation of death.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Anticipatory Grief in Dementia: An Ethnographic Study of Loss and Connection

Dekker

2022

Cult Med Psychiatry

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In this article, I address the experiences of family members of people with dementia, as they expressed the sensation of gradually losing the person with dementia. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in nursing homes in the Netherlands, and contributing to the anthropology of grief, I explore the co-existence of experiences of anticipatory grief and manifestations of care to maintain meaningful relations. I show how my interlocutors adapted to changing circumstances as the disease progressed, and in so doing found new ways to relate, as well as prepared for future losses and the expected end of life. I argue that anticipatory grief is temporal and relational, encompassing both present and future losses, and involving a continuous negotiation between the loss and the continuing relationship. I underscore the entanglement of loss and connection, showing how both exist parallel to, and may emerge from one another, and demonstrating how an anthropological approach to anticipatory grief can reveal the nuanced and equivocal character of experiences of illness and at the end of life.

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“…Norms and values related to cultural identity are considered to be particularly important, because those who have lost a loved one often report an experience of part of themselves is missing that is connecting them to their cultural background ( 11 ). In the case of refugees, bereavement and grief seem to impact their cultural identity in terms of their sense of belonging, because of the (partial) absence of a family support system, limited availability of resources to regulate the mourning process, and—although scarcely investigated—deviant norms and values with respect to bereavement and grief between refugees and native inhabitants in the host society ( 12 ), which may contribute to cultural incongruity ( 11 ). In order to improve diagnosis and treatment of PGD, increased knowledge is required on cultural differences with respect to the significance and rituals related to grief and mourning between native and refugee patient populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Let's talk about grief: Protocol of a study on the recognition and psychoeducation of prolonged grief disorder in outpatients with common mental disorders

et al. 2022

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BackgroundRecognition that the loss of a loved one may result in prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has gained broad attention recently. PGD may disturb daily functioning to such a degree that mental health treatment is required. Because PGD symptoms often resemble symptoms of common mental disorders (CMD) such as anxiety, depressive, and post-traumatic stress disorder, clinicians may not consider a PGD diagnosis. Moreover, cultural varieties in expression of PGD may complicate recognition. This study explores the prevalence of PGD among both natives and refugees with anxiety, depressive, or trauma- and/or stressor-related disorders as well as clinicians' awareness and knowledge of PGD symptoms. In addition, a psychoeducation module on PGD symptoms is developed through patient expert collaboration.MethodsPrevalence of PGD symptoms is investigated among 50 participants who are referred to outpatient clinics for anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress, using the Traumatic Grief Inventory—Self Report Plus (TGI-SR+) and the Bereavement and Grief—Cultural Formulation Interview (BG-CFI). Clinicians will be interviewed on knowledge (gaps) with respect to PGD symptoms. Finally, focus groups with patient experts are held to develop a psychoeducation module tailored to the patients' needs, norms and values.ResultsThis study will show prevalence of PGD among patients who are referred for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, awareness and knowledge of clinicians on PGD symptoms, and will offer patient expert informed psychoeducation.DiscussionResearch on prevalence and recognition of PGD is vital. Study results of the prevalence of PGD will be compared to previous studies. Recognition of PGD as distinct disorder from CMDs requires clinicians' awareness of symptoms related to the loss of a loved one. Thereby, clinicians need to take cultural aspects related to death, bereavement and mourning into consideration.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol will be carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Exploratory research to assess the prevalence of PGD in patients suffering from CMDs will facilitate adequate diagnosis by increasing clinician's awareness of PGD symptoms. Tailored PGD psychoeducation, co-created by culturally diverse patient experts and clinicians will be made publicly available.

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Culture and grief: Ethnographic perspectives on ritual, relationships and remembering

Cited by 55 publications

References 32 publications

The grief experience during the COVID-19 pandemic across different cultures

The grief experience during the COVID-19 pandemic across different cultures

Anticipatory Grief in Dementia: An Ethnographic Study of Loss and Connection

Let's talk about grief: Protocol of a study on the recognition and psychoeducation of prolonged grief disorder in outpatients with common mental disorders

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