Echoes of loss: Moral injury and complex bereavement among pet owners in the wake of humidifier disinfectant disasters

Abstract

In this qualitative study, we examine the experiences of nine South Korean individuals impacted by the humidifier disinfectant scandal, a significant social disaster that resulted in the loss or health deterioration of their pets. Although humidifier disinfectants were marketed since 1994, it was not until 2011 that the South Korean government acknowledged their detrimental effects and proposed a ban. This study fills a research gap by focusing on pet owners, a substantial yet understudied demographic affected by this disaster. Our analysis reveals that the prevailing legal culture, demanding victims to substantiate their eligibility for compensation, not only intensified their trauma but also prolonged their grieving process, contributing to complex bereavement. The initial ambiguity regarding their pets' deaths fostered feelings of regret, which, upon realizing the true cause, transformed into profound guilt akin to moral injury. Based on these findings, the study offers policy recommendations to address such complex emotional repercussions in social disaster contexts.