In this thesis, we focus on different perceptions of death, cultural views on death and the loss of a loved one as a traumatic event. Furthermore, we discuss the theoretical framework of grief and coping with loss, with particular emphasis on the concept of social support, its importance, and the role of social support and support networks in coping with the loss of a loved one. The loss of a loved one is a distressing experience for the bereaved, in which the individual is confronted with emotional and behavioral responses of varying intensity alongside changes in the individual’s life dynamics. Social support can be crucial in coping with stressful events. Therefore, it is important that the bereaved receive adequate, appropriate, and sufficient social support during the grieving process.
In the empirical part of this thesis, interviews were conducted with six individuals who had previously experienced the loss of a loved one. The aim of the study was to examine the participants’ experiences of coping with the loss of a loved one immediately after the death, to assess the impact of this loss on their thinking and current lives, and to identify the types of social support they received during the bereavement period, whether this support was adequate, and whether they perceived it as sufficient.
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