Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye

This phenomenological study explored the grief ritual experiences of individuals who lost one or more loved ones in the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Türkiye, based on Continuing Bonds Theory. The sample consisted of ten adults (7 women, 3 men; aged 20-51) who experienced the disaster in Kahramanmaraş, its epicenter. Data were collected through semi-structured interview questions and analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Our findings indicated that participants engaged in grief rituals that were either rooted in cultural traditions or constructed according to their personal preferences. Both personal and culturally grounded rituals were found to serve key functions in supporting emotional regulation, maintaining ongoing connections with the deceased, providing opportunities for social support, and facilitating the acceptance of loss. However, our findings also revealed that guilt may arise when individuals do not adhere to expected grief rituals. All findings were discussed in light of the relevant literature.