Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound psychological events that can significantly affect experiencers' lives. Previous research shows NDE memories are phenomenologically rich. This study analyzed the narratives of 34 cardiac arrest survivors to extract common themes. A qualitative thematic analysis identified 10 'time-bounded' themes—isolated events during the NDE—and 1 'transversal' theme that characterizes the entire narrative, often as a retrospective self-reflective comment. The division into themes provides detailed vocabulary used by experiencers and enables a rigorous description of the phenomenon, ensuring all self-reported manifestations are included.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs) refer to profound psychological events that can have an important impact on the experiencers' (NDErs) lives. Previous studies have shown that NDEs memories are phenomenologically rich. In the present study, we therefore aimed to extract the common themes (referred to as "features" in the NDE literature) reported by NDErs by analyzing all the concepts stored in the narratives of their experiences. A qualitative thematic analysis has been carried out on 34 cardiac arrest survivors' NDE narratives. Our results shed the light on the structure of the narratives by identifying 10 "time-bounded" themes which refer to isolated events encountered during the NDE and 1 "transversal" theme which characterizes the whole narrative and generally appears as a retrospective comment of self-reflection on the experience. The division of narratives into themes provides us with detailed information about the vocabulary used by NDErs to describe their experience. This established thematic method enables a rigorous description of the phenomenon, ensuring the inclusion of all self-reported manifestations of themes in narratives.