The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on the Grief Process of African American Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected African Americans in the areas of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Research studies have historically focused primarily on the grief experiences of European Americans. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the bereavement experience of African American adults. The theoretical frameworks used to guide this study were attachment theory, individual differences model, and meaning reconstruction model. Three research questions were the focus of the qualitative study: what are the lived grief experiences of African American adults who experienced the death of a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic, how do African Americans adults perceive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their grief process, and what methods did African American adults use to cope with the death of loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic? Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, focus groups and journal prompts and analyzed using thematic analysis method for identifying, examining, and reporting patterns within data. The findings of the study described the common experiences of African American adults who experienced the loss of a loved during the pandemic. Themes emerged from the data analysis. The study is significant to the mental health profession as it informs those who are working with African American adults concerning the impact of their loss and grief experiences. The study also addresses the gap in the literature on the grief experiences of African Americans and the impact of COVID-19 on this population.