Mourning During COVID-19 Pandemic in Bojnurd, a City in Northeast of Iran: A Qualitative Study

Background: The way one mourns varies across different cultures. As such in each society, the mourning rituals in accordance with the culture of that society can alleviate the grieving process. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, in many parts of the world, restrictions have been imposed on hosting different ceremonies and events to control the spread of the virus. Since the enforced regulations have made changes to the way mourning is done in these times, an investigation of the experiences of people of different cultures in coping with loss during the current crisis seems to be of importance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mourning experiences in north-east of Iran during COVID-19. Methods: This is a qualitative study which was conducted by using content analysis. The participants were 11 individuals who had lost a family member due to COVID-19 in Bojnurd in 2020. Sampling was purposive and continued until reaching data saturation. Semi-structured interviews and note-taking were utilized for data collection. The interviews were recorded and the notes were then evaluated. Results: After analyzing the collected data and forming semantic units, three main categories and nine sub-categories of unexpressed grief were extracted. Unexpressed bereavement, effects on mental health, and dissatisfaction with services comprise the main categories while lack of farewell opportunity, the emotional burden of COVID-19, strange burial, fear and social stigma, lack of adequate psychological support, emotional trauma and shock, reducing the motivation for life, lack of professional principles in the death announcements, and finally lack of equipment and non-compliance with hygiene standards make up the 9 subcategories. Conclusion: The collected evidence concerning the unexpressed grieving experience ensuing from the COVID-19 induced death of a family member reveals such issue to be one of the most important mental health issues during the spread of the virus, which requires the necessary investigation and intervention of the experts in this field.