Grief Dream Content of Family Members After 12 Years of the Roboski Massacre

Abstract

This study explores the grief dream content of family members who lost loved ones in the Roboski massacre, a traumatic event in southeastern Turkey in which 34 civilians were killed in a state-led airstrike. Using a phenomenological design, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 bereaved individuals who reported dreams of the deceased. Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: Positive Dream Content, Negative Dream Content, and Postdream Reactions. Positive dream content included messages of reassurance, spiritual well-being, physical interaction, and comforting memories. These dreams were interpreted as emotionally supportive and reflective of continuing bonds. Negative dream content included traumatic imagery, emotional disconnection, and distressing symbols, such as graves, darkness, or mutilated bodies. Participants described intense psychological and physiological reactions to such dreams, including fear, guilt, and sleep disturbances. Postdream responses ranged from religious rituals (e.g., sacrifices and almsgiving) to cognitive and emotional shifts. Cultural and religious frameworks strongly shaped how dreams were understood and acted upon. Findings highlight the dual function of grief dreams in both regulating emotion and expressing unresolved trauma. In the context of politically unacknowledged loss, grief dreams served not only as personal expressions of grieving but also as cultural texts of memory, identity, and resistance. These results contribute to a culturally sensitive understanding of grief, emphasizing the symbolic and emotional significance of dreams in the adaptation to traumatic bereavement.