Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences

[en] Near-death experiences (NDEs) refer to profound psychological events that can have an important impact on the experiencers’ (NDErs) lives. Previous studies have shown that NDEs memories are phenomenologically rich. In the present study, we therefore aimed to extract the common themes (referred to as “features” in the NDE literature) reported by NDErs by analyzing all the concepts stored in the narratives of their experiences. A qualitative thematic analysis has been carried out on 34 cardiac arrest survivors’ NDE narratives. Our results shed the light on the structure of the narratives by identifying 10 “time-bounded” themes which refer to isolated events encountered during the NDE and 1 “transversal” theme which characterizes the whole narrative and generally appears as a retrospective comment of self-reflection on the experience. The division of narratives into themes provides us with detailed information about the vocabulary used by NDErs to describe their experience. This established thematic method enables a rigorous description of the phenomenon, ensuring the inclusion of all self-reported manifestations of themes in narratives.

Research center :

GIGA-COMA - GIGA Consciousness-Coma Science Group - ULiège

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior

Author, co-author :

Cassol, Helena ^✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA : Coma Group

Pétré, Benoît ^✱; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Education thérap. du patient au serv. des soins int.

Degrange, Sophie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Santé publique : aspects spécifiques

Martial, Charlotte ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA : Coma Group

Charland-Verville, Vanessa ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Lallier, François; University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne > Family Medicine Department

Bragard, Isabelle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Simulation en santé publique

Guillaume, Michèle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Epidémiologie nutritionnelle

Laureys, Steven ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA : Coma Group

^✱ These authors have contributed equally to this work.

Language :

English

Title :

Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences

Alternative titles :

[fr] Analyse qualitative thématique de la phénoménologie des expériences de mort imminente

Publication date :

14 February 2018

Journal title :

PLoS ONE

eISSN :

1932-6203

Publisher :

Public Library of Science, United States - California

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]

Available on ORBi :

since 09 February 2018

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