The Phenomenology of Distressing Near-death Experiences and Their Aftereffects
Amal Ait Melloul, Karolina Kinnunen, Etzel Cardeña
Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition November 27, 2024 DOI: 10.31156/jaex.25433 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 8 |
| Population | Individuals with distressing near-death experiences from the IANDS database |
| Topics | Near-death experience Philosophy of mind |
| Key findings | Distressing NDEs include disturbing feelings, darkness, and frightening images, and can have both negative and positive features, leading to emotional and social aftereffects. |
Abstract
Objective: To explore what it is like to have a distressing near-death experience (NDE) and its aftereffects.
Method: We accessed all distressing NDE narratives from the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) database and analyzed eight individual narratives using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
Results: Distressing NDEs include features such as disturbing feelings and experiences of darkness and frightening images in different forms. Participants reported emotional and social difficulties in dealing with the NDE afterwards. Aftereffects such as receiving negative feedback when talking about the experience and heightened emotions were mentioned. We found hybrid experiences, where the distressing experience had positive features as well.
Conclusion: Future research about NDEs should focus on hybrid experiences and employ mixed methods and more qualitative research in general.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences Cardiac arrest survivors | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 34 |
| Do Suicide Survivors Report Near-Death Experiences? Persons who had been close to death as a result of a suicide attempt | 1982 | Qualitative study | n = 36 |
| The evolving self: finding meaning in near-death experiences using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Female participants who had near-death experiences | 2008 | Qualitative study | n = 3 |
| Investigation of the phenomenology, physiology and impact of spiritually transformative experiences - kundalini awakening. Persons having a spiritually transformative experience (e.g., spontaneous energetic... | 2021 | Qualitative study | |
| Near-death experiences and religion: A further investigation Near-death experiencers | 1984 | Qualitative study | n = 40 |