Risk Factors of Complicated Grief in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Aim and Background: The factors of complicated grief are unclear, and many studies have referred to it as a socio-cultural phenomenon. Therefore, the present research aims to study the risk factors of complicated grief qualitatively.Method: This investigation's theoretical framework and research methodology were based on quality and phenomenology type. The study included grieving participants (n=۱۵) and psychologists (n=۴) specialised in grief and loss counseling. Data was collected through in-depth interviews from December ۱۰, ۲۰۲۲, to April ۳۰, ۲۰۲۳, using purposive sampling (n = ۱۹), and data saturation determined the sample size. Interviews were conducted either online or face-to-face by one well-trained researcher, depending on the participants' convenience. The interviews were conducted in ۴ sessions, each lasting about ۶۰–۹۰ min, and simultaneously collected and analyzed the data. The analysis approach of this study was grounded theory.Results: After transcribing and documenting the interview content, revisited the coding process, yielding ۲۳۰ distinct codes, and carried out the selective and axial coding processes after extracting the codes. Researchers categorized the codes whittled down to ۵۲ primary codes. These were then divided into three theme clusters (psychological, social, family, and cultural factors). psychological factors such as loss, social factors such as lack of social support, and cultural factors such as wrong comforting behaviors can be effective in complicated grief.Conclusion: This study suggests that various psychological, cultural, and social determinants contribute to the evolution of grief into a pathological condition, making it a cultural and social phenomenon.

کلیدواژه ها:

Complicated Grief (CG) ، Psychological Factors ، Cultural Factors ، Social and Family Factors ، qualitative study