Disenfranchised grief occurs when individuals have a loss, and those who experience it do not receive the understanding or support they need (Tietsort et al., 2023; Woodlock et al., 2023; Kaur-Aujila et al., 2022). Individuals who experienced a loss did not receive the same level of support as others (Silva et al., 2023; Betriana & Kongsuwan, 2019; Hidayati et al., 2023). Individuals felt that their losses did not deserve or warrant the same support that other losses might. Instead, these individuals felt alienated and isolated, and their grief was not socially mourned or recognized openly (Silva et al., 2023; Shepherd et al., 2021).
Some individuals may be diagnosed with Prolonged Grief Disorder (Priegerson et al., 2021; Szuhany et al., 2021; Eisma, 2023). Dakota, a bereavement expert, developed the term disenfranchised grief in 1989 (Cepulliene, 2022; Eisma & Boelen, 2023; Doka, 2019; Crossley & Rolland, 2022). People experiencing disenfranchised grief are at risk of experiencing further psychological complications (Tietsort et al., 2023; Hurst & Kannangara, 2022). Individuals experiencing this type of grief can develop symptoms of sadness, despair, anger, and guilt (Lu et al., 2023; Leitch, 2022; Meichsner et al., 2020). Additionally, there can be physical symptoms that accompany grief. Physical symptoms may include sleep challenges and appetite fluctuations (Lu et al., 2023; Mason et al., 2020; Esplen et al., 2022). Other complications experienced from disenfranchised grief include loneliness, anxiety, depression, shame, and embarrassment (Lu et al., 2023; Pack, 2020; Leidl et al., 2022). One experience that causes people to experience this type of grief is the loss of a pet (Spain et al., 2019; Gore, 2019; Wayland & Maple, 2020; Cameron et al., 2022).
The prevalence of disenfranchised grief due to pet loss in North America is estimated to be approximately 30% of pet owners (Adams et al., 2000; Adrian & Stitt, 2019). Furthermore, 66% of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet (Applebaum et al., 2020; Holland, 2019; Sanchez et al., 2023). A 30% rate of disenfranchised grief due to pet loss would equal nearly 26 million people experiencing disenfranchised grief due to pet loss in the United States, making it a significant mental health concern. Approximately ten percent of those experiencing grief experience Prolonged Grief Disorder (Killikelli et al., 2019; Strada, 2019; Rammohan et al., 2021). Disenfranchised grief is associated with challenges to mental and physical health (Tang & Xiang, 2021; Tietsort et al., 2023; Woodlock et al., 2023). Accompanying mental health disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (Tsai et al., 2020; Falzarano et al., 2022; Frazer, 2022). Individuals experiencing disenfranchised grief due to pet loss have a higher risk of experiencing depressive disorders or trauma disorders (Leitch, 2022; Wojtkowiak et al., 2021; Berry, 2022). The rates of males and females experiencing disenfranchised grief due to pet loss are slightly higher for females (men: 79%, women: 81%) (Lundorff et al., 2020; Obst et al., 2020; Pack, 2020). Children and older adults appear to be most impacted by this grief (Marr et al., 2022; Ojala et al., 2021; Bindley et al., 2019). Accessing mental health treatment to treat this grief can be challenging as they encounter the lack of support they need (Smith et al., 2019; Betriana & Kongsuwan, 2019).
The impact of disenfranchised grief due to pet loss can extend beyond the immediate circumstances. Potential consequences of disenfranchised grief due to pet loss include increased loneliness, isolation, and depressive symptoms (Carr et al., 2020; Tasai et al., 2020). Subsequently, coping skills to manage disenfranchised grief due to pet loss and reduce the negative behavioral health consequences will be examined in this study. The type of study to be conducted will be a systemic review (Newman & Gough, 2020; Stern et al., 2021). Through this approach research will be collected that will be used to answer the research questions. The expectation is that the research gathered will help to inform the study on what coping skills can be utilized by pet owners experiencing disenfranchised grief from pet loss.
Marc A. Campos-Pantoja, MPH, LCSW, PhD, PsyD is a licensed psychotherapist in California who helps clients throughout California with managing their grief experiences after losing their. Please contact Dr. Campos-Pantoja at marcc75@proton.me
