A cross-cultural approach to complicated grief reactions among Togo–Western African immigrants in Europe.
Abstract
Many researchers have noted that bereavement is a major stress factor associated with the etiopathogeny of psychological disorders among immigrants, but until now, the grief reactions of these ethnic minorities have not been analyzed. This study aims to examine the impact of the migration trajectory (immigration status and duration) as well as the use of ritual support to cope with grief reactions in the context of migration. Fifty-four migrants and 20 refugees ( N = 74) in France and Belgium were surveyed regarding their experience of mourning a family member. The results showed that complicated grief is associated with the status and duration of immigration. A majority of refugees reported a deterioration of their social life when the duration of their immigration exceeded 10 years. Feeling guilty, dazed or stunned, loneliness, bitterness, numbness, and emptiness made up the spectrum of severe and persistent guilt reactions. Those who took part in bereavement rituals suffered less from feelings of guilt and despondency. Eldest siblings presented a very high rate of complicated grief. These findings were discussed using a psycho-cultural approach; they demonstrated that in the context of migration, grief reactions develop around the principle of debt, based on the parent–child relationship inextricably associated with a feeling of belonging to the ethnic group and collective memory.
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For those who participated in bereavement rituals, scores were significantly lower on the ICG-r.
“Additionally, for those who participated in bereavement rituals their scores were significantly lower on the ICG-r.”
From The assessment of grief in refugees and post-conflict survivors: a narrative review of etic and emic research (2018) · cites this paper as Kokou-Kpolou et al., 2017
In Kokou-Kpolou et al. (2017), mean ICG-R scores were 31.33 for migrants versus 40.20 for refugees, and additional grief items were the most highly endorsed for both groups (means 2.85 and 2.15 out of 4).
“Mean scores on the ICG-R were compared for migrants and refugees (31.33 vs 40.20 respectively). Scores on the additional grief items were the most highly endorsed items for both refugees and migrants (mean 2.85 and 2.15 out of 4 respectively).”
From The assessment of grief in refugees and post-conflict survivors: a narrative review of etic and emic research (2018) · cites this paper as Kokou-Kpolou et al., 2017
The inability to perform culturally specific death rites and rituals post-migration was associated with higher severity of grief symptoms.
“Kokou-Kpolou et al. (2017), the inability to perform culturally specific death rites and rituals post-migration was associated with higher severity of grief symptoms.”
From The assessment of grief in refugees and post-conflict survivors: a narrative review of etic and emic research (2018) · cites this paper as Kokou-Kpolou et al., 2017
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Killikelly, C., Bauer, S., & Maercker, A. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01957 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kokou-Kpolou, K., Mbassa Menick, D., Moukouta, C. S., Baugnet, L., & Kpelly, D. E.
- Affiliations
- Université de Picardie Jules Verne (FR)
- University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon
- Corresponding author
- Kokou-Kpolou, Kossigan
- Venue
- Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-07-24
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1247-1262
- ISSN
- 0022-0221 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-5422
- OpenAlex
- W2738079877
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
- Keywords
- complicated grief, bereavement, refugees, migration duration, immigration status, guilt, mourning, parent-child relationship, collective memory, ethnic minorities
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