Continuing Bonds, Meaning Making, and Collectivism: Predictors of Complicated Grief

Continuing bonds or maintaining a physical or mental connection with a deceased loved one is an aspect of the bereavement process that has displayed mixed results in the bereavement literature with respect to its adaptive or maladaptive effects. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of continuing bonds on complicated grief symptoms and how this effect is influenced by the meaning making the bereaved individual engages in, and their level of relational collectivism. One hundred and fifty seven participants who had lost a human loved one were recruited from counseling psychology masters and doctoral programs. A bootstrap mediation analysis was used to examine a moderated mediation model. Results of the main analysis revealed a significant partial mediation effect of meaning making on continuing bonds influence on complicated grief symptoms. However, results indicated no significant moderation effect of relational collectivism on the relationship between continuing bonds and meaning making. Preliminary analysis revealed no significant relationship between the outcome variables and participant age, race/ethnicity, religious affiliation, or time passed since the loss. However, the type of death reported and the reported level of closeness to the deceased had significant relationships with both meaning making and complicated grief symptoms. These findings, their limitations and implications are discussed with respect to their impact on bereaved individuals and possible avenues for counselors working with bereaved clients are presented. Recommendations for future research which may expand the bereavement literature are explored

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counseling Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Black, Christopher G.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Nilsson, Johanna E.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/43885

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/43885