The Aftereffects of Near-Death Experiences on the Lives of Near-Death Experiencers: A Qualitative Study

Near-death experiences produce extensive and long-lasting aftereffects on individuals' personal and social lives. A qualitative study of 18 people in Iran who had NDEs identified four main categories of change: social aftereffects, religious-spiritual aftereffects, emotional and psychic aftereffects, and the acquisition of transcendental abilities. These changes often create problems in personal life or social relationships. Understanding these effects can benefit both NDErs and those who interact with them.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Introduction: One of the rare situations that occur at the consciousness level to those who are on the brink of death is a near-death experience (NDE). This experience that contains cognitive, emotional, and psychological elements is associated with profound and relatively present study aimed to investigate and explain the effects of NDEs on the lives of NDErs. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological approach. The participants were 18 people from different cities in Iran who had NDEs. They were selected through purposive sampling from 2017 to 2019. The data were collected via individual tape-recorded in-depth interviews and simultaneously analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method. Results: The analysis of the data revealed 216 codes that were classified under 11 thematic codes. In the next step, the extracted codes were further subcategorized under 4 main themes including social aftereffects, religious-spiritual aftereffects, emotional and psychic aftereffects, and the acquisition of transcendental abilities. Conclusion: NDEs have extensive and long-lasting aftereffects on the individual and social life of NDErs. These changes cause numerous problems for NDErs in their personal life or social relationships. Insight into these changes can positively affect NDErs and other people who interact with them.