Personal and Cultural Grief Rituals Among Earthquake Survivors in Türkiye

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2, 281 - 300, 24.12.2025

Huri Elif Özcan , Fatma Zehra Ünlü Kaynakçı

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

grief , grief rituals , earthquake survivors , phenomenological study

Etik Beyan

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

Destekleyen Kurum

This research received no external funding.

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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

Etik Beyan

Gerekli etik izinler, TED Üniversitesi İnsan Araştırmaları Etik Kurulu’ndan alınmıştır (Karar No: 2023-20; Tarih: 12.08.2023).

Destekleyen Kurum

Bu araştırma herhangi bir dış fon desteği almamıştır.

Kaynakça

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