Unexplained experiences in the context of bereavement–qualitative analysis

Abstract

Unexplained experiences are common in the context of bereavement. According to the theory of Continuing Bonds (CB), these experiences relate to a post-death relationship with the deceased and are a part of grief. This study sought to describe unexplained experiences in the context of bereavement through an analysis of 408 narratives by 181 participants. The goal was to generate knowledge on a less-researched topic that could be utilised in supporting bereaved individuals and in the development of grief interventions. The study found that bereaved individuals undergo unexplained physical, mental, and sensory experiences. Physical experiences included experiences with the irregular operation of electronic devices, unusual object phenomena and unusual natural phenomena. Mental experiences included experiences of communication, changed state of being and feeling the presence of the deceased. Sensory experiences involved experiences of seeing figures, as well as auditory, tactile, and olfactory experiences. The experiences were diverse and occurred in the context of close and meaningful relationships. A shared feature of the various experiences was the individual’s perception of the phenomenon’s connection to the deceased. Due to the realistic and powerful nature of the experiences, considering them in the provision of grief support seems imperative.