Grief processes following social conflict-related loss: A systematic review

Death Stud. 2026 May 25:1-21. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2026.2676986. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Social conflict-related loss represents a critical dimension of bereavement, arising in contexts of organized violence, political repression, and structural injustice, where loss is often intertwined with ongoing social and legal struggles. This study systematically reviewed and synthesized the literature on conflict-related loss using an integrated mixed-methods design. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified studies published through May 2025, of which twenty met inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that individuals frequently experience co-occurring Prolonged Grief Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and anxiety. Coping processes operate at both individual and collective levels, with legal action, commemorative practices, and community organizing serving as key mechanisms for meaning-making and long-term integration of loss. Furthermore, politicized contexts, collective identity, and justice-related processes were found to fundamentally shape grief experiences. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health, social, and sociolegal perspectives to understand bereavement in contexts of social conflict.

PMID:42179308 | DOI:10.1080/07481187.2026.2676986