Reactivity, Coping, and Adjustment after Bereavement

Despite the relatively common occurrence of bereavement, or experiencing the death of a loved one, there is considerable variability in individuals' responses to that experience. In the present study, individuals' responses to bereavement were investigated using the Stress and Coping Model (Lazarus, 1966; Lazarus & Cohen, 1977; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) as a framework. Data from 436 individuals who were bereaved for 24 or fewer months prior to participation in the study were used to investigate associations between age, gender, emotion reactivity, coping, history of depression, grief, and adjustment (in terms of both positive and negative well-being) using a structural equation model (chi2 (50) = 165.143, p < .001, chi2/df = 3.30, CFI = .939, GFI = .944, RMSEA = .075). The model revealed that older participants, women, and those who reported using more avoidant/involuntary coping strategies reported more grief; that those who reported using more avoidant/involuntary coping, those who reported experiencing more grief, and those who reported having a history of depression reported more negative well-being; and that women, those who reported being less emotionally reactive, those who reported using fewer active engagement coping strategies, those who reported using more avoidant/involuntary coping, those who reported experiencing more grief, and those who reported having a history of depression reported lower positive well-being. Results are discussed in terms utility in identifying who may need more assistance after the death of a loved one and differences between the current sample and samples used in other bereavement research.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Henrie, James A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Julie Hicks Patrick
• Christine Bittenour
• Amy Gentzler
• Elisa Krackow
• Constance Toffle

• Developmental psychology

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/132

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1135