Grieving in virtual worlds: emotional processes and generational differences in avatar-based memorials on VRChat

Integrating grief theory with socio-technical perspectives, the study proposes the Hybrid Grief Model of Virtual Mourning (HGM-VM), conceptualizing digital grief as a dynamic interplay of emotional transition, oscillatory coping, and continuing bonds within virtual spaces. The findings show that virtual mourning does not diminish emotional authenticity but reconfigures it through immersive, participatory, and generationally shaped practices, offering theoretical and practical implications for designing inclusive and emotionally resonant virtual memorial environments.