Work

The New Sociology of Bereavement

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: Bereavement-the loss of a loved one through death-is a common and consequential life course experience. Although bereavement, and matters of death and dying more generally, have long remained on the margins of sociology, in the wake of contemporary mortality crises, sociological research on bereavement has flourished. This review synthesizes the new sociology of bereavement. To contextualize contemporary advancements, we first describe the earlier dominance of psychopathology perspectives on the topic. We then review recent sociological contributions, describing recognition of the structural systems that underpin bereavement and shape its wide-ranging and long-lasting consequences for individuals, families, and communities. We emphasize how bereavement experiences provide a microcosm for understanding social inequalities, and that a life course perspective can provide an integrative framework for a comprehensive sociology of bereavement. We conclude by identifying promising areas for future advancements in this emerging field.

Source: Annual Review of Sociology

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-soc-090324-035534

Authors: Emily Smith-Greenaway, Ashton M. Verdery, Deborah Carr

Institutions: University of Southern California, Pennsylvania State University, Boston University

Language: English

Topic: Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Institute on Aging

Award: Crossnational Comparisons of Kinlessness and Health: Past, Present and Future