Being towards death and dying: an interpretive phenomenological exploration of death and dying conversations

Background: Within Western societies, conversations about death and dying are mainly taboo unless a person is bereaved or facing a life-shortening illness. While psycho-social theoretical conceptualisations of death and dying are offered, little is known about the experience of death and dying conversations amongst adult communities.
Aim: To explore the lived experiences of people's conversations about death and dying.
Method: Drawing on Findlay’s relational phenomenology and van Manen’s lifeworld existentials, an interpretive phenomenological approach was adopted. Participants were recruited from three groups:1)Stakeholders within the death positivity movement; 2) Adults with a life-shortening illness; 3)Adults without a life-shortening Illness. Data was collected using focus groups and individual interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to organise the data.
Findings: Twenty-five people participated. The themes identified the multi-dimensional facets that shaped participants’ perceptions of death and dying conversations. Findings linked to four lifeworld existentials: 1) Spatiality is essential for creating supportive environments for addressing end-of-life matters constructively and compassionately; 2) Temporality in the context of death and dying can foster resilience, acceptance, and a sense of continuity in the face of life's inevitable transitions; 3) Corporeality fosters a culture of empathy and authenticity in which individuals feel empowered to share their emotions and experiences; 4) Relationality highlights how our relationships with the self and others impact on our readiness for death and dying conversation
Conclusion: In the post-pandemic era, while we are more death-aware and want to engage in narrative support, meaning making and legacy leaving to guide our relational bereavement journeys, conversations about death and dying remain challenging both within and outside of clinical settings. An open approach to death and dying conversations, embracing culturally appropriate terminology, knowledge of human development, creativity and eclectic spirituality, should guide future intervention development.