Meet our core members: Sandra Rogne

Sandra Rogne is a PhD student at the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. Her research focuses on bereavement, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about 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. For several years, I worked with families of individuals with dementia – both as a lecturer and in support groups. These experiences sparked my interest in how bereavement and grief impact mental health, particularly in the context of social and health inequalities. My motivation to pursue a PhD grew while working on my thesis, as it allowed me to explore these topics further.

Q: What is the focus of your PhD thesis?
Through a mixed-method approach, the thesis will focus on bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its consequences for mental health in the bereaved population. I aim to explore how pandemic-related circumstances, such as restrictions and isolation, have affected the grieving process. The research will investigate how the unique challenges of the pandemic may have exacerbated or complicated the experience of loss.

Q: What are some of the key questions your research is addressing?
For the quantitative studies, the primary goal is to investigate whether the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of adverse mental health outcomes in the bereaved. The qualitative study will explore the individual grieving process, capturing in-depth personal experiences to understand how the unique challenges of the pandemic have influenced their grief journey.

Q: How do you hope your research will contribute to the field?
I hope to contribute to bereavement research by investigating a particularly challenging time during a global pandemic. Hopefully, my research will provide new knowledge that can guide the development of more effective support systems for bereaved individuals, as well as policies that are better prepared for future health crises.

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