The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on global mental health, with adolescents who experienced bereavement facing unique challenges. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of two Malaysian siblings who lost their mother to COVID-19, focusing on their unique grieving processes and coping mechanisms. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, the research reveals the complex emotional landscape faced by bereaved adolescents, including feelings of isolation, helplessness, and disrupted family dynamics due to pandemic restrictions. The findings highlight the significant impact of cultural norms and the loss of traditional mourning rituals, as well as the siblings’ resilience and adaptability in seeking support through religious practices and honouring their mother’s legacy. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive, age-appropriate mental health interventions to support adolescents navigating grief during unprecedented times and provides valuable insights for developing effective bereavement support and policies.
Abu Bakar, A. Y., & Amran, M. S. (2021). Adolescents’ anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia [Letter to the editor]. Ocean Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health, 1(1), 1–3. https://oceanvisionarypublications.com/journal/ocean-journal-of-psychiatry-and-mental-health-research/article/adolescents-anxiety-during-covid-19-pandemic-in-malaysia
Adiukwu, F., Kamalzadeh, L., Pinto da Costa, M., Ransing, R., de Filippis, R., Pereira?Sanchez, V., Larnaout, A., Gonzalez?Diaz, J. M., Eid, M., Syarif, Z., Orsolini, L., Ramalho, R., Vadivel, R., & Shalbafan, M. (2022). The grief experience during the COVID?19 pandemic across different cultures. Annals of General Psychiatry, 21, Article 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-022-00397-z
Ahmadi, N., Pynoos, R., & Berkowitz, S. (2024). Unmasking and addressing COVID-19-related grief reactions among suicidal youth: Pilot evidence for an enhanced psychiatry emergency room safety preventive intervention. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 114, 35–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2024.01.109
Akanni, A. A. (2016). Mechanism for coping with moments of grief in Islam. Sociology Study, 6(10), 663–675. https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5526/2016.10.005
Alvis, L., Zhang, N., Sandler, I. N., & Kaplow, J. B. (2022). Developmental manifestations of grief in children and adolescents: Caregivers as key grief facilitators. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 16(2), 447–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-021-00435-0
Arora, S., & Bhatia, S. (2024). Addressing grief and bereavement in the COVID-19 pandemic. Illness, Crisis & Loss, 32(4), 492–503. https://doi.org/10.1177/10541373221145536
Bell, I. H., Nicholas, J., Broomhall, A., et al. (2023). The impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health: A mixed methods survey. Psychiatry Research, 321, Article 115082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115082
Boever, C., Zech, E., & Cherblanc, J. (2024). Toward a better assessment of coping with bereavement: Applicability to diverse experiences and conceptual structure of the coping with bereavement questionnaire. Death Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2024.2420875
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Cao, F., Li, J., Xin, W., & Cai, N. (2024). Impact of social support on the resilience of youth: Mediating effects of coping styles. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, Article 1331813. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1331813
Chaaya, R., Sfeir, M., Khoury, S. E., Malhab, S. B., & Khoury-Malhame, M. E. (2025). Adaptive versus maladaptive coping strategies: insight from Lebanese young adults navigating multiple crises. BMC public health, 25(1), 1464. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22608-4
Chachar, A. S., Younus, S., & Ali, W. (2021). Developmental understanding of death and grief among children during COVID-19 pandemic: Application of Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, Article 654584. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.654584
Chatterjee, D. (2024). Understanding 'eldest daughter syndrome'. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 12(5). https://doi.org/10.37898/spiritualpc.1403670
Ç?naro?lu, M. (2024). A tale of resilience and faith: Understanding grief through Islamic coping mechanisms. Spiritual Psychology and Counselling, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.37898/spiritualpc.140367028
Dolcos, F., Hohl, K., Hu, Y., & Dolcos, S. (2021). Religiosity and Resilience: Cognitive Reappraisal and Coping Self-Efficacy Mediate the Link between Religious Coping and Well-Being. Journal of religion and health, 60(4), 2892–2905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01160-y
Eisma, M. C., & Tamminga, A. (2022). COVID-19, natural, and unnatural bereavement: Comprehensive comparisons of loss circumstances and grief severity. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(1), Article 2062998. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2022.2062998
Erbiçer, E. S., Metin, A., & Do?an, T. (2023). Grief and mourning in the COVID-19 pandemic and delayed business as a new concept. Culture & Psychology, 29(1), 3–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067X221118921
Farella Guzzo, M., & Gobbi, G. (2023). Parental death during adolescence: A review of the literature. Omega—Journal of Death and Dying, 87(4), 1207–1237. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211033661
Fegert, J. M., Vitiello, B., Plener, P. L., & Clemens, V. (2020). Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: A narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 14, Article 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-020-00329-3
Feng, Z., Ye, Y., Wang, H., & Wang, J. (2024). I am just a sister: A field study on sister-as-mother role from Guangdong, China. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1361096. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1361096
Garagiola, E. R., Lam, Q., Wachsmuth, L. S., Tan, T. Y., Ghali, S., Asafo, S., & Swarna, M. (2022). Adolescent Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of the Impact of the Pandemic on Developmental Milestones. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 12(7), 220. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs12070220
Hakulinen, C., & Komulainen, K. (2024). Perspectives on adolescent mental health after the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Psychiatry, 11(6), 402–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(24)00138-X
Haleem, A., Javaid, M., & Vaishya, R. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 pandemic in daily life. Current Medicine Research and Practice, 10(2), 78–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmrp.2020.03.011
Khawaja, S., & Khawaja, N. G. (2019). Coping with loss and bereavement: An Islamic perspective [Author manuscript]. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 48(1), 10–12. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/129091/
Klass, D., Silverman, P. R., & Nickman, S. L. (Eds.). (1996). Continuing bonds: New understandings of grief. Taylor & Francis.
Mitima-Verloop, H. B., Mooren, T. T. M., Kritikou, M. E., & Boelen, P. A. (2022). Restricted mourning: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on funeral services, grief rituals, and prolonged grief symptoms. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, Article 878818. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.878818
Miyah, Y., Youssef, B., Mohammed, B., Lairini, S., & Lahrichi, A. (2022). COVID-19 impact on public health, environment, human psychology, global socioeconomy, and education. The Scientific World Journal, 2022, Article 5578284. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5578284
Patel, P. S., Desai, N. D., Shah, S. H., & Shah, S. N. (2022). Lived experiences of bereaved family members during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care hospital with special reference to imposed restrictive COVID guidelines—a qualitative study. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 89(1), 404–420. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221075207
Salleh Yusof, M. Y., & Ramli, M. A. (2021). Local wisdom of tahlil and tunggu kubur practices in death customs among the Malays in Malaysia. Umran International Journal of Islamic Civilization Studies, 8(2), Article 396. https://doi.org/10.11113/umran2021.8n2.396
Santos, S., Sá, T., Aguiar, I., Cardoso, I., Correia, Z., & Correia, T. (2021). Case report: Parental loss and childhood grief during COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 626940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.626940
Seedat, S., & Rondon, M. (2021). Women’s wellbeing and the burden of unpaid work. BMJ, 374, n1972. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1972
Towers, L. (2025). “There's a huge hole left in the middle of the family”: Locating family practices within the context of (sibling) bereavement. Families, Relationships and Societies, 14(2), 177–193. https://doi.org/10.1332/204674324X17068706068793
Walter, T., & Bailey, T. (2020). How funerals accomplish family: Findings from a mass-observation study. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 82(2), 175–195. https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222818804646
Worden, J. W. (2009). Grief counselling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner (4th ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
Puad, N. B. M., & Tan, J. S. (2025). Left Behind Together: Malaysian Muslim Siblings’ Bereavement During the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(11), 1174–1185.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
