End-of-life care and the human researcher: the emotional impact of sensitive research on researchers

Zana Bayley

Chapter 35 in Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences, 2025, pp 522-536 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Arguably, one of the most sensitive areas of research is death. Research into death and dying has grown as populations are supported in having greater control and autonomy over their healthcare preferences at end-of-life. Understanding the emotional impact of this is crucial to enable researchers to be equipped and supported while engaged in this work. This chapter highlights some of the key challenges in researching end-of-life from a researcher's perspective. These challenges include understanding emotional sensitivity in end-of-life care research, practical issues in preparing for, undertaking, and moving on from research, the impact of research on life and life on research, and the vulnerabilities of the researcher. The chapter also offers practical recommendations for consideration by researchers and arguably research bodies who fund end-of-life care research, including reflexivity, support networks, and emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing, to help us all support and maintain an emotionally aware and resilient research community.

Keywords: End-of-life care; Death and dying; Sensitive; Vulnerable; Emotional; Researchers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035315222
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