Related Experiment Videos
Cultural perspectives of grief: an expanded concept analysis
1University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Nursing, 53201, USA.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|February 1, 1996
Summary
Cultural heritage does not alter the individual experience of grief. While mourning rituals vary, the core intrapersonal grief experience remains consistent across diverse cultural backgrounds. This highlights grief
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Cultural Studies
Background:
- Human grief is a long-standing area of scholarly and practical interest.
- The influence of cultural heritage on the individual experience of grief remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of cultural heritage in shaping the intrapersonal experience of grief.
- To compare culturally derived grief concepts with existing professional literature.
Main Methods:
- Utilized six focus groups, with participants from distinct cultural backgrounds.
- Employed thematic analysis of qualitative data.
- Compared findings with a prior concept analysis of grief from professional literature.
Main Results:
- Individuals across various cultures defined grief similarly, based on personal experiences, aligning with professional literature.
- Perceived differences in mourning rituals and behavioral expressions of grief do not equate to distinct intrapersonal grief experiences attributable to culture or ethnicity alone.
Conclusions:
- Cultural heritage and ethnicity do not significantly alter the fundamental, individual experience of grief.
- Practicing nurses should recognize the highly individual and pervasive nature of grief, irrespective of cultural background.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuances of grief across diverse populations.