The grief coping mechanisms employed by youths during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote mental health in rural limpopo province

This study aimed to explore the grief coping strategies employed by youths who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic became a global health crisis, affecting people regardless of age, race, and socio-economic status. The study was conducted in three villages in Limpopo Province of South Africa. A qualitative descriptive research design was employed to provide a holistic understanding of the grief coping strategies employed by youths who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. A non-probability purposive sampling approach was used to select youths for focus group discussions across the three villages. In total, three focus group discussions with 17 participants were conducted, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results revealed five subthemes: crying and praying for God’s grace, listening to social and mass media about the COVID-19 pandemic, adhering to lockdown rules to save lives, expressing feelings to others, and harmful coping responses. This study found that youth used dual coping mechanisms, including both adaptive and maladaptive responses. The findings emphasize the need to establish psychosocial support systems in the rural areas of Limpopo Province.