Grieving the Living: The Social Death of Former Jehovah’s Witnesses

Addressing a relative lack of research investigating the experiences of individuals who have left the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW), this research utilizes a social identity approach to examine qualitatively, the process of transitioning towards post-JW life, experiences of ostracism and perceived threat...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of religion and health
Authors: Ransom, Heather J. (Author) ; Monk, Rebecca L. (Author) ; Heim, Derek (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V. 2022
In: Journal of religion and health
Further subjects:B Ostracism
B Self-esteem
B Identity
B Jehovah’s Witnesses
B Mental well-being
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:Addressing a relative lack of research investigating the experiences of individuals who have left the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW), this research utilizes a social identity approach to examine qualitatively, the process of transitioning towards post-JW life, experiences of ostracism and perceived threats to self-identity. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in the homes of six former JWs, and transcripts were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Narratives suggest that experiences of ostracism following religious exit can be associated with diminished mental health, while having a sense of agency and establishing new (online) social connections may help mitigate adverse consequences. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
ISSN:1573-6571
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10943-020-01156-8