Bereavement among faculty members in a university setting

Area of Science:

• Workplace Psychology
• Grief and Bereavement Studies
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• Faculty members returning to work after a significant loss face unique challenges.
• The university setting presents specific demands that can impact the grieving process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of university faculty navigating bereavement while resuming work responsibilities.
• To understand how the academic environment influences the faculty's grief journey.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative, phenomenological approach was employed.
• In-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with seven faculty members.
• Participants had experienced the death of a close family member.

Main Results:

• The university setting's demands can lead to the grieving process going unrecognized.
• Work responsibilities complicate the physical and emotional responses to grief.
• The university environment can also provide a supportive role, despite some instances of disregard from colleagues.

Conclusions:

• University faculty bereavement is a complex process influenced by the academic environment.
• Recommendations are discussed for social policy, university administrators, and faculty to better support grieving employees.
• Further research is needed to address the intersection of grief and academic work.