Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2025
Differences in After-Death Communications: A Comparative Analysis of Unexpected vs. Expected Deaths and Their Impact on Survivors’ Grief and Perception of Death
This study explores changes in grief and fear of death in individuals who reported after death communications (ADC) from people who died unexpectedly or whose death was expected. We found that those bereaved by unexpected loss reported significantly higher levels of uncertainty regarding changes in their fear of death compared to those bereaved by an expected loss. However, no significant differences were found in grief between the two groups. Most participants reported a positive impact of ADC on their bereavement, regardless of the type of loss they experienced. These findings underscore the impact of ADCs upon grief and emotional healing, regardless of whether the loss was unexpected or expected. The results of our study may inform understanding of the relationship between death, grief, and consciousness survival.
BeischelJ. (2019). Spontaneous, facilitated, assisted, and requested after-death communication experiences and their impact on grief. Threshold: Journal of Interdisciplinary Consciousness Studies, 3(1), 1–32.
2.
BoelenP. A. (2015). Peritraumatic distress and dissociation in prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress following violent and unexpected deaths. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 16(5), 541–550. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2015.1027841
3.
CooperC. E.RoeC. A.MitchellG. (2015). Anomalous experiences and the bereavement process. In CattoiT.MoremanC. (Eds.), The ecstasy of the end: Death and dying across traditions (pp. 117–131). Palgrave MacMillan.
4.
DrewryM. D. J. (2003). Purported after-death communication and its role in the recovery of bereaved individuals: A phenomenological study[Doctoral dissertation, California Institute for Human Science]. EBSCO Publishing.
5.
ElsaesserE. (2023). Spontaneous contacts with the deceased: A large-scale international survey reveals the circumstances, lived experience and beneficial impact of after-death communications (ADCs). Iff Books|Collective Ink.
6.
ElsaesserE.RoeC. A.CooperC. E.LorimerD. (2021). The phenomenology and impact of hallucinations concerning the deceased. BJPsych Open, 7(148), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.960
7.
EvrardR.DollanderM.ElsaesserE.CooperC.LorimerD.RoeC. (2021). Exceptional necrophanic experiences and paradoxical mourning: Studies of the phenomenology and the repercussions of frightening experiences of contact with the deceased. L'Évolution Psychiatrique, 86(4), e1–e24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evopsy.2021.09.001
8.
ExlineJ. J. (2021). Psychopathology, normal psychological processes, or supernatural encounters? Three ways to frame reports of after-death communication. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 8(3), 164–176. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000245
9.
GillilandG.FlemingS. (1998). A comparison of spousal anticipatory grief and conventional grief. Death Studies, 22(6), 541–569. https://doi.org/10.1080/074811898201399
10.
HoldenJ. M.St Germain-SehrN.ReyesA.LoseuS.SchmidtM. K.LairdA.WeintraubL.St Germain-SehrA. M.PriceE.BlalockS.BevlyC.LankfordC.MandaliseJ. (2019). Comparative effects of induced after-death communication and traditional counselling on grief. Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement, 22(1), 4–9.
11.
JahnD. R.Spencer-ThomasS. (2014). Continuing bonds through after-death spiritual experiences in individuals bereaved by suicide. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 16(4), 311–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2015.957612
12.
KeyesK. M.PrattC.GaleaS.McLaughlinK. A.KoenenK. C.ShearM. K. (2014). The burden of loss: Unexpected death of a loved one and psychiatric disorders across the life course in a national study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(8), 864–871. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.13081132
13.
KlassD.SteffenE. M. (Eds.) (2018). Continuing bonds in bereavement: New directions for research and practice. Routledge.
14.
KrauseN. (2011). Reported contact with the dead, religious involvement, and death anxiety in late life. Review of Religious Research, 52(4), 347–364.
15.
KristensenP.WeisæthL.HeirT. (2012). Bereavement and mental health after sudden and violent losses: A review. Psychiatry Processes, 75(1), 76–97. https://doi.org/10.1521/psyc.2012.75.1.76
PaitK. C.ExlineJ. J.PargamentK. I.ZarrellaP. (2023). After-death communication: Issues of nondisclosure and implications for treatment. Religions, 14(8), 985. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14080985
18.
PenberthyJ. K.PehlivanovaM.KaleliogluT.RoeC. A.CooperC. E.LorimerD.ElsaesserE. (2021). Factors moderating the impact of after death communications on beliefs and spirituality. Omega, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211029160
19.
PenberthyJ. K.St Germain-SehrN. R.GramsG.BurnsM.LorimerD.CooperC. E.RoeC. A.MorrisonS.ElsaesserE. (2023). Description and impact of encounters with deceased partners or spouses. OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231207900
RogallaK. B. (2020). Anticipatory grief, proactive coping, social support, and growth: Exploring positive experiences of preparing for loss. Omega, 81(1), 107–129. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222818761461
23.
StephenE.CoyleA. (2011). Sense of presence experiences and meaning-making in bereavement: A qualitative analysis. Death Studies, 35(7), 579–609. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2011.584758
24.
St Germain-SehrN.MaxeyG. A. (2019). Case studies in induced after- death communication. Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement, 22(1), 18–21.
25.
Streit-HornJ.HoldenJ. M.SmithJ. E. (2022). Empirically-based best estimates of after-death communication (ADC) phenomena: A systematic review of research. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 40(3), 141–176. https://doi.org/10.17514/JNDS-2022-40-3-p141-176
