Community psychology, digital technology, and loss: Remembrance activities of young adults who have experienced the death of a close friend

We argue for community psychology to include digital communications technology in research on ways that the social environment shapes fundamental human experiences. We present a qualitative study that examined the narrative accounts of 20 young adults who experienced the death of a close friend to d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of community & applied social psychology 2019-07, Vol.29 (4), p.257-272
Main Authors: Stein, Catherine H., Hartl Majcher, Jessica, Froemming, Maren W., Greenberg, Sarah C., Benoit, Matthew F., Gonzales, Sabrina M., Petrowski, Catherine E., Mattei, Gina M., Dulek, Erin B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bereavement
Communication
Communications technology
Community psychology
Community research
Coping
death
Death & dying
digital communications technology
Digital technology
Friendship
Grief
Internet
Memories
Mortality
Narratives
Qualitative research
Remembrance
Social environment
Social support
Technology
Young adults
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Summary:We argue for community psychology to include digital communications technology in research on ways that the social environment shapes fundamental human experiences. We present a qualitative study that examined the narrative accounts of 20 young adults who experienced the death of a close friend to describe both traditional and digital forms of remembrance in coping with loss. Findings suggest that young adults' activities both online and offline were intended to acknowledge the loss, exchange social support, create and sustain memories of their deceased friend, and facilitate continued communication with the deceased. Participants described both costs and benefits to their real and virtual remembrance activities. Findings illustrate ways that the study of digital technology adds to our understanding of grief and bereavement and contributes to dominant cultural narratives about coping with death. Implications of findings for research in community psychology are discussed.
ISSN:1052-9284
1099-1298
DOI:10.1002/casp.2398