A demographic framework for understanding social inequalities in bereavement
Research
Due to the rise in human longevity, many individuals in low-mortality countries can now expect to grow old, to be survived by their children, and to know their grandchildren. Yet, these prospects are not equally shared. Social inequalities in mortality persist and may lead to inequalities in family bereavement. How exposure to bereavement is internalized by individuals and shapes their lives is a key sociological question, at the intersection of social stratification, mortality, and kinship demography.
Few studies have examined the impact of mortality inequalities from the perspective of the bereaved. Thus, little is known about (1) how demographic factors shape exposure to family bereavement across the life course; (2) how the burden of bereavement varies across social groups; (3) whether inequalities in bereavement give rise to different modes of feeling, thinking, and acting. The ERC-funded DEM-LOSS project aims to fill this gap by developing a demographic framework of bereavement.
Drawing on life course theory, it conceptualizes the burden of bereavement with respect to intensity (repeated exposure to kin deaths), timing during the life course, and anticipation of the loss. Drawing on kinship demography, it recognizes that family bereavement is shaped by variation in kin structure, in addition to differences in kin mortality. Lastly, motivated by theories of macro-micro relations, it links demographic rates to subjective expectations, wellbeing, and behaviors.
Testing this theoretical framework requires population-wide, multigenerational microdata. Few countries meet these demands. Thus, the study takes place in two countries, Sweden and Israel, with dedicated research teams in each country. The study examines the social determinants of family bereavement across the life course, as well as its social and economic consequences for individuals and populations.