A thematic analysis investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the way people think and talk about death and dying

ABSTRACT

This study explored how people thought and talked about death/dying during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings presented here are based on data collected for a larger study exploring the processes undertaken that allow individuals to actively think and openly talk about death and dying. Ten of the eleven interviews conducted during the pandemic mentioned COVID-19. These were subjected to thematic analysis, which identified two main themes: ‘Becoming more thoughtful and open about death’ and ‘Anxieties around death and COVID-19’. The findings suggest that COVID-19 has prompted some people to think about and become more open to talk about death and dying.

KEYWORDS:

• Death and dying
• COVID-19
• thinking about death
• talking about death
• end-of-life wishes
• death anxiety

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the participants for taking part in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The participants of this study did not give written consent for their data to be shared publicly, so due to the sensitive nature of the research supporting data is not available.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kathryn Radley

Kathryn Radley is a PhD psychology student at the University of Huddersfield. She is currently working on her thesis examining how people begin to actively think and openly talk about death and dying.

Nigel King

Nigel King is Professor in Applied Psychology at the University of Huddersfield. He has published extensively on qualitative methods, including interviews, template analysis and visual methods. His substantive interests include patient, carer and professional experiences of palliative/end-of-life care, bereavement and anomalous experiences, and how people respond to and make meaning of outdoor spaces.

Nadia Wager

Nadia Wager is a Reader in Forensic Psychology and Acting Director of the None in Three Research Centre at the University of Huddersfield. She studies gender-based violence, restorative justice and the prevention of child abuse. She is a mixed-methods researcher with an interest in the ethical issues inherent in researching sensitive or taboo topics.