Citation

Stein CH, Majcher JH, Froemming MW, Greenberg SC, Benoit MF, Gonzales SM, Petrowski CE, Mattei GM, Dulek EB. J. Community Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2019; 29(4): 257-272.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/casp.2398

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

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.

Language: en

Keywords

coping; death; digital communications technology; remembrance; young adults