Modelling Everyday Understandings of Mortality: A Qualitative Enquiry

Article

McEwan, Oona, Mcdermott, M. and Hefferon, Kate 2018. Modelling Everyday Understandings of Mortality: A Qualitative Enquiry. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. 62 (5), pp. 627-652. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167818787908
AuthorsMcEwan, Oona, Mcdermott, M. and Hefferon, Kate
Abstract

With few exceptions, much of the literature on mortality awareness (MA; the realization of one’s own and other’s mortality), though based on quantitative research, is focused on its negative effects and processes associated with fearing its occurrence. However, recent studies have demonstrated that MA is multifaceted and can be associated with positive processes and outcomes. Here, everyday understandings of MA were investigated using grounded theory. Ten participants engaged in one-off semistructured interviews about their everyday experiences of MA. Grounded theory analysis revealed four main themes: (a) Moments of MA, (b) Functionality of MA, (c) Coping strategies for MA, and (d) Inability to cope with MA. Each of these themes is composed of two to five subthemes. The results supported the notion that MA is experienced in a multidimensional manner, which appears to align with elements of the Multidimensional Mortality Awareness Measure and Model. Furthermore, positive and/or negative outcomes appeared to depend on the function attributed to MA by the individual. Therefore, the ability to attribute such function to MA appears to be important in our understanding of this key existential issue.

JournalJournal of Humanistic Psychology
Journal citation62 (5), pp. 627-652
ISSN0022-1678
Year2018
PublisherSAGE Publications
Accepted author manuscript
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File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167818787908
Publication dates
Online03 Aug 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited11 Sep 2018
Accepted07 Jun 2018
Accepted07 Jun 2018
Copyright informationAs accepted for publication in Journal of Humanistic Psychology: McEwan, O., McDermott, M., Hefferon, K., Modelling Everyday Understandings of Mortality: A Qualitative Enquiry, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 62 (5), pp. 627 - 652. Copyright © 2018 The authors.
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