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The death of loved ones is an impactful event in people’s lives, reminding everyone of their mortality. The recognition of one’s eventual death remains a prevailing thought for much of the human experience regardless of intentional focus or purposefully avoided. Thus, contemplation of how one will die is effectually inescapable. Nevertheless, the finalization of this event can only be experienced once, and thereafter, no further description can be shared with others. This unknowingness of life’s conclusion persists in the human consciousness, which can contribute to adverse mental health conditions. Acknowledging these potential outcomes can prevent them, prepare for them, or address them in a psychologically healthy manner. This phenomenological qualitative study aimed to explore how people experience unmet death expectations. Participants (N=40) were adults aged 20 to 79 from ten national identities. All participants had lost a loved one as recent as weeks and spanning over three decades in the past. Moreover, they shared meaningful conversations about dying and faced challenges during this experience. The participants expressed wishing to have more thoroughly discussed the topic of death with loved ones who had passed. Furthermore, they had preferences on the death they would seek for themselves but often came short on how it relates to their lives. Ultimately, introspection and discussions surrounding the deaths of others and the imminent death of oneself are areas of exploration throughout life.
- et al. (Wed,) studied this question.