Grief interactions among emerging adults on college campuses

Abstract

An estimated 25–40% of the student population on university campuses is grieving a loss that occurred within the past 24 months. This study illustrates the findings of interviews from 20 students about their grief experiences to more deeply understand the unique ways they experience and interact with grief. Three overarching themes were identified, including private grief interactions with non-bereaved peers, private grief interactions with bereaved peers, and counseling grief interactions. Discussion of specific pragmemes of accommodation associated with each interaction is provided and how these discourses uniquely socially construct grief support for emerging adults on college campuses.