No See, No Touch: Coping Strategies Focused on Bereaved Family Members’ Lived Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study investigates the coping strategies of bereaved family members who lost their loved ones because of the restricted burial protocols due to COVID-19. Following the hermeneutic phenomenological design, this study employed transcendental phenomenology (TPh) for the data analysis. Utilizing qualitative interviews, 10 participants aged 19 to 60 were selected using convenient sampling. The data revealed six themes: unknown farewell, emotional roller coaster comes with grieving, a sense to cope up, importance of surrounding environment, an urge to fulfill the wishes of a deceased loved one, and uncertainty. Thus, the bereaved family members struggled physically, psychologically, and mentally as they experienced being stripped of the right to practice burial rites or to be able to feel and receive comfort from their family, relatives, friends, or churchmates for the loss of their loved ones. These supports were an integral part of the participants’ coping strategies, which they employed to either move forward or already moved on after the death of their loved ones. Despite the tragic experience, their coping strategies showed resilience.