How We Disenfranchise Grief for Self and Other: An Empirical Study

• Published in: Omega: Journal of Death and Dying Vol. 89; no. 2; pp. 530 - 549
• Main Authors: Cesur-Soysal, Gizem, Arı, Ela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.06.2024; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Attitude to Death; Disenfranchised Grief; Disenfranchisement; Female; Grief; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Middle Aged; Mourning; Object Attachment; Self Concept; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; social support; psychological disorder; self-disenfranchised grief; pet loss; attachment; romantic relationship break-up
• ISSN: 0030-2228; 1541-3764
• DOI: 10.1177/00302228221075203

Disenfranchised grief can be defined as a loss that is not openly acknowledged or a mourning process not recognized socially after a loss. One can also self-disenfranchise as suppressing and not allowing oneself to grieve. The current study aims to examine perceived disenfranchisement, self-disenfranchisement and disenfranchisement of others. For this purpose, three hypothetical unacknowledged loss scenarios, which are pet loss, a romantic relationship break-up and having a psychological disorder, were used to compare self and other disenfranchisement as well as to reveal the relationships to attachment and social support. The findings indicate that the three loss scenarios differ in terms of the acknowledgement of loss, grief and social and professional support for self and others. Subsequently, attachment and social support are significantly related to the evaluations of the disenfranchised grief process. Finally, the implications of the findings are discussed.