Seven Participants’ Facebook Experiences of Loss & Mourning

Abstract

Social media, and for many, specifically, Facebook, has emerged as an integral part of daily routine and is often the primary medium for sharing news with one’s community. With the emergence of this technologically integrated social lifestyle, research is needed to elucidate the ways in which individuals and communities are impacted. While numerous questions of sociological and psychological impact emerge, the purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of mourning and bereavement on Facebook. Four research questions were posed to assist in understanding this emergent phenomenon: (a) how has social media, specifically Facebook, impacted the mourning process within the first 13 to 14 months of the loss; (b) what was the lived experience of utilizing Facebook to mourn; (c) was there a perceived pressure or expectation to mourn publically on Facebook; and (d) what were, if any, unexpected outcomes or experiences from mourning through Facebook. The method used for this study was a qualitative phenomenological multiple case study with a constructivist philosophical worldview employing interviews, surveys, and live-document analysis. One male and six female participants, ranging in age from 27 to 38, qualified for the study. Four significant themes emerged from the data: (a) Facebook as a community grief support; (b) Facebook as external, active mourning; (c) Facebook as a means of self-presentation in grief; and (d) negative outcomes of Facebook use with grief. Three conclusions were derived from the findings. First, Facebook had a positive impact on mourning because it reduced isolation, increased connection to support, and allowed grievers to receive instant feedback validating their experience. Second, Facebook allowed participants to disseminate information about the loss, ranging from specifics about the death to details about the FACEBOOK, LOSS & MOURNING memorial service. Third, Facebook provided participants an avenue to be more vulnerable about the mourning experience without dealing with social cues present in face-to-face interactions.