Awaiting on the rubble: phenomenological perspectives on ambiguous loss by earthquake survivors

OBJECTIVE: In this phenomenological study, we investigated the lived experiences of ambiguous loss among family members following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Turkiye. We explored how they processed the loss, reconstructed their identities, and related to their social environment and future. METHOD: We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with fourteen family members who experienced ambiguous loss. We anaylzed the transcribed interviews using content Analysis. RESULTS: The analysis identified four key themes: Process; Others; Effects; and Self, Family, and Life Roles. Although most participants eventually received confirmation of the death of their loved ones and received their bodies, the initial period of uncertainty caused significant emotional distress and a complicated grieving period. Participants reported intense emotional suffering, but they also described gradual coping through meaning-making and emotional adaptation over time. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore that ambiguous loss functions as a distinct and particularly debilitating form of grief, where the initial uncertainty may disrupt the mourning process. The findings highlight the critical need for support systems and interventions that address this type of unique trauma and foster long-term adaptive coping strategies.