Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye

Huri Elif Özcan; Fatma Zehra Ünlü Kaynakçı

EN TR

Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye

Abstract

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.

Keywords

grief, grief rituals, earthquake survivors, phenomenological study

Türkiye’de Depremden Sağ Kalan Bireylerde Kişisel ve Kültürel Yas Ritüelleri

Abstract

Bu fenomenolojik araştırma, 6 Şubat 2023’te Türkiye’de meydana gelen deprem sonrasında bir veya birden fazla yakınını kaybeden bireylerin yas ritüellerine ilişkin deneyimlerini Devam Eden Bağlar Yaklaşımı temelinde incelemektedir. Katılımcı grubunu, depremin merkez üssü olan Kahramanmaraş’ta afeti yaşamış 10 yetişkin (7 kadın, 3 erkek; 20 ile 51 yaş aralığı) oluşturmaktadır. Veriler yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme soruları aracılığıyla toplanmış ve Yorumlayıcı Fenomenolojik Analiz yaklaşımı doğrultusunda değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, katılımcıların hem kültürel geleneklere dayanan hem de kişisel tercihler doğrultusunda şekillenen yas ritüellerini yerine getirdiklerini göstermiştir. Katılımcılar yas ritüellerinin; duygusal düzenlemeyi destekleme, ölen kişiyle sürdürülen bağları güçlendirme, sosyal destek olanakları sunma ve kaybın kabullenilmesini kolaylaştırma gibi işlevlerine vurgu yapmışlardır. Bununla birlikte, ritüellerin yerine getirilememesi durumunda katılımcıların suçluluk duygusu yaşayabildiği de saptanmıştır. Tüm bulgular ilgili alan yazını ışığında tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

yas, yas ritüelleri, depremden sağ kalan bireyler, fenomenolojik araştırma

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding.

Ethical Statement

The necessary ethical permissions (Decision No: 2023-20; Date: 12.08.2023) from the TED University Human Research Ethics Committee were obtained.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychological Counseling and Guidance (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Huri Elif Özcan
0000-0002-3945-1998
Türkiye

Fatma Zehra Ünlü Kaynakçı ^*
0000-0002-9491-2750
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 24, 2025

Submission Date

November 11, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 14, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW

APA

Özcan, H. E., & Ünlü Kaynakçı, F. Z. (2025). Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 9(2), 281-300. https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW

AMA

1.Özcan HE, Ünlü Kaynakçı FZ. Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye. GAUN-JES. 2025;9(2):281-300. https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW

Chicago

Özcan, Huri Elif, and Fatma Zehra Ünlü Kaynakçı. 2025. “Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye”. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 9 (2): 281-300. https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW.

EndNote

Özcan HE, Ünlü Kaynakçı FZ (December 1, 2025) Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 9 2 281–300.

IEEE

[1]H. E. Özcan and F. Z. Ünlü Kaynakçı, “Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye”, GAUN-JES, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 281–300, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW

ISNAD

Özcan, Huri Elif - Ünlü Kaynakçı, Fatma Zehra. “Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye”. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi 9/2 (December 1, 2025): 281-300. https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW.

JAMA

1.Özcan HE, Ünlü Kaynakçı FZ. Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye. GAUN-JES. 2025;9:281–300.

MLA

Özcan, Huri Elif, and Fatma Zehra Ünlü Kaynakçı. “Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye”. Gaziantep Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 281-00, https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW.

Vancouver

1.Huri Elif Özcan, Fatma Zehra Ünlü Kaynakçı. Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye. GAUN-JES [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;9(2):281-300. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA29SG57MW

Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye

Abstract

Keywords

Türkiye’de Depremden Sağ Kalan Bireylerde Kişisel ve Kültürel Yas Ritüelleri

Abstract

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ethical Statement

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

IZ

Cite