Sandra Rogne is a doctoral student affiliated with CHESS. Her research focuses on bereavement, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: What is your academic background, and what led you to pursue a PhD?
I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public health sciences. Before starting my PhD, I worked with families of individuals with dementia, both as a lecturer and in support groups. Through these experiences, I became increasingly interested in how bereavement affects mental health and well-being, and how these experiences may differ depending on social and structural circumstances. My interest in research grew further during my master’s thesis, which ultimately motivated me to pursue a PhD and continue exploring these questions.
Q: Your doctoral work focuses on bereavement, health, and periods of heightened risk. What motivated your interest in this topic?
Bereavement is something that most people experience at some point in life, yet its impact can vary substantially between individuals and across situations. I became particularly interested in how grief and health are shaped not only by the loss itself, but also by the surrounding circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this very clearly, as many people experienced bereavement under conditions of various restrictions and social disruption. I wanted to better understand how these circumstances may have shaped grief and mental health during such a unique period.
Q: Your thesis looks at both timing and circumstance in grief. Why are these dimensions important when studying bereavement?
Grief is a dynamic process that changes over time and across contexts. Timing is important because bereavement-related distress can fluctuate, with certain periods, such as the first months after a loss or meaningful anniversaries, may be especially difficult for bereaved individuals. Circumstances also matter because the conditions surrounding a death can shape how people experience and cope with grief. This can include the relationship to the person who died, the cause of death, and broader societal conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, many people experienced restricted opportunities to say goodbye, altered funeral practices, and reduced social support. By studying both timing and circumstance, the thesis aims to provide a broader understanding of how bereavement may affect mental health and well-being.
Q. What research topics would you like to pursue in the future?
I would like to continue researching bereavement and health. I am interested in how social inequalities shape exposure to loss and access to support, as well as how different forms of bereavement may influence health over time. I would also like to further explore how population-based register data and qualitative approaches can be combined to better understand the personal experiences behind broader population-level patterns. More broadly, I hope to contribute to research that can inform support systems and public health responses for bereaved individuals, both in everyday settings and during future health crises.