SENSE OF PRESENCE EXPERIENCES AND MEANING-MAKING IN BEREAVEMENT:: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Edith Steffen; Adrian Coyle

doi:10.1080/07481187.2011.584758

SENSE OF PRESENCE EXPERIENCES AND MEANING-MAKING IN BEREAVEMENT: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Edith Steffen, Adrian Coyle

School of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This qualitative study aimed to explore the potential role that might be played by the reported experience of “sensing the presence of the deceased” in meaning-making processes in bereavement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants who reported having had such an experience and the transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis. Seven overarching themes were identified, 3 of which were considered central: finding benefit in the continuation of the deceased, finding benefit in the continued relationship, and finding meaning through existential, spiritual, and religious sense-making. While participants found many benefits in what they experienced, finding meaning beyond immediate coping seemed to require the availability of spiritual/religious frameworks that could be adopted or, if available but discrepant, could meaningfully accommodate the experience.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	579-609
Journal	DEATH STUDIES
Volume	35
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2011.584758
Publication status	Published - 2011

Keywords

Spirituality, Bereavement, Thematic Analysis (Research Methodology), Meaning-making, Anomalous Experience, and Continuing bonds

Access to Document

10.1080/07481187.2011.584758

Cite this

@article{b98e7d4a467a4bc8bd7804c0cc3f76c0,

title = "SENSE OF PRESENCE EXPERIENCES AND MEANING-MAKING IN BEREAVEMENT:: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS",

abstract = "This qualitative study aimed to explore the potential role that might be played by the reported experience of “sensing the presence of the deceased” in meaning-making processes in bereavement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants who reported having had such an experience and the transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis. Seven overarching themes were identified, 3 of which were considered central: finding benefit in the continuation of the deceased, finding benefit in the continued relationship, and finding meaning through existential, spiritual, and religious sense-making. While participants found many benefits in what they experienced, finding meaning beyond immediate coping seemed to require the availability of spiritual/religious frameworks that could be adopted or, if available but discrepant, could meaningfully accommodate the experience.",

keywords = "Spirituality, Bereavement, Thematic Analysis (Research Methodology), Meaning-making, Anomalous Experience, and Continuing bonds",

author = "Edith Steffen and Adrian Coyle",

year = "2011",

doi = "10.1080/07481187.2011.584758",

language = "English",

volume = "35",

pages = "579--609",

journal = "DEATH STUDIES",

issn = "0748-1187",

publisher = "Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group",

number = "7",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - SENSE OF PRESENCE EXPERIENCES AND MEANING-MAKING IN BEREAVEMENT:

T2 - A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

AU - Steffen, Edith

AU - Coyle, Adrian

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - This qualitative study aimed to explore the potential role that might be played by the reported experience of “sensing the presence of the deceased” in meaning-making processes in bereavement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants who reported having had such an experience and the transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis. Seven overarching themes were identified, 3 of which were considered central: finding benefit in the continuation of the deceased, finding benefit in the continued relationship, and finding meaning through existential, spiritual, and religious sense-making. While participants found many benefits in what they experienced, finding meaning beyond immediate coping seemed to require the availability of spiritual/religious frameworks that could be adopted or, if available but discrepant, could meaningfully accommodate the experience.

AB - This qualitative study aimed to explore the potential role that might be played by the reported experience of “sensing the presence of the deceased” in meaning-making processes in bereavement. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants who reported having had such an experience and the transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis. Seven overarching themes were identified, 3 of which were considered central: finding benefit in the continuation of the deceased, finding benefit in the continued relationship, and finding meaning through existential, spiritual, and religious sense-making. While participants found many benefits in what they experienced, finding meaning beyond immediate coping seemed to require the availability of spiritual/religious frameworks that could be adopted or, if available but discrepant, could meaningfully accommodate the experience.

KW - Spirituality, Bereavement, Thematic Analysis (Research Methodology), Meaning-making, Anomalous Experience, and Continuing bonds

U2 - 10.1080/07481187.2011.584758

DO - 10.1080/07481187.2011.584758

M3 - Article

SN - 0748-1187

VL - 35

SP - 579

EP - 609

JO - DEATH STUDIES

JF - DEATH STUDIES

IS - 7

ER -