The functions of the dreams of the deceased: A qualitative study of women bereaved by partner's suicide

Suicide bereavement is a challenging experience that affects relationships, feelings, and physical and mental health. The research on dreams during suicide bereavement might deepen the understanding of how the loved one's suicide affects the person and what functions the dreams can have during the bereavement process. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to explore the functions of the dreams of the deceased during suicide bereavement in a sample of 9 women bereaved by their partner's suicide. The data was gathered by conducting semi-structured interviews and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were generated: dreams function as helping during the process of suicide bereavement; dreams reflect the traumatic aspects of suicide bereavement; dreams function as a space to maintain or sever an ongoing relationship with the deceased. The findings reveal that dreams can function in different ways and can be a valid part of suicide bereavement.

Automated summary

Suicide bereavement is a challenging experience that affects relationships, feelings, and physical and mental health. Studying dreams during this period can enhance our understanding of how the loved one's suicide impacts individuals and the functions dreams serve during the bereavement process. This study explored the functions of dreams of the deceased in a sample of 9 women who had experienced partner suicide bereavement. Through semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis, three themes emerged: dreams as a source of help during the bereavement process, dreams reflecting the traumatic aspects of suicide bereavement, and dreams functioning as a space to maintain or sever the relationship with the deceased. The findings highlight the varied roles dreams can play and their validity in suicide bereavement.