Reactions and re-signification of loss following the death of a loved one in the Spanish Civil War and postwar period: A qualitative study across three generations

The emotional repercussions stemming from the Spanish Civil War and the postwar period, along with the demands of the affected families, remain a complex and unresolved reality. Unlike in other countries, research in Spain in this issue are still scarce, due-amongst other reasons-to misinformation and silence. The present study aims to highlight the lack of processing of traumatic loss across the first, second, and third generations of descendants of those executed during the Franco regime, while also examining the particularities of this type of grief. Using qualitative methodology, the accounts of a sample of nine grievers were examined through thematic analysis. Three themes were identified, reflecting, different reactions to the loss, various mechanisms for its re-signification (highlighting the lack of information and social recognition), and the participants' demands to bring closure to their process. The psychosocial nature of traumatic loss grants the environment a decisive role in its resolution.