The image of the soul and the memorial services

from a survey of bereaved family who have lost a loved one

Abstract

This study examined (1) the relationship among the bereaved family’s images of the deceased’s soul (“Reikonkannen”), the frequency of memorial services (“Kuyou”), which includes visiting the grave (“Bosan”), and the offering of food and flowers (“Osonae”), and (2) the potential mediating effect of the perception that “the deceased needs memorial services.” A total of 283 individuals (163men and 120 women; mean age=58.98 years, SD= 17.15) who were registered with a research company participated in an online survey. The results of the mediation analysis confirmed that the acceptance of images of the deceased’s soul influenced both the frequency of memorial services and the offering of food and flowers through the perceived need for memorial services, suggesting that people’s behavior is defined by their image of the deceased’s soul. As a future consideration, the study proposes examining the impact of the image of the deceased’s soul and the engagement in memorial services on the mental health and well-being of bereaved family members.