Circumstances of Death and Complicated Grief: Indirect Associations Through Meaning Made of Loss

Rozalski, Vincent; Holland, Jason M.; Neimeyer, Robert A.

doi:10.1080/15325024.2016.1161426

Cited by 62 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Building on previous research that demonstrated the mediating role of meaning making in the aetiology of PGD (Milman, Neimeyer, Fitzpatrick, MacKinnon, Muis, & Cohen, under review; Currier, Holland, & Neimeyer, 2006; Rozalski et al, 2017), the present study is the first to identify themes of meaning that prospectively predict PGD symptomatology in the context of violent loss. Specifically, relative to non-violent bereavement, participants grieving a violent death endorsed sense of peace and continuing bonds to a lesser degree and, over time, those who reported lower levels of these meaning themes experienced higher PGD symptomatology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…For example, previous studies have suggested that risk factors for PGD, including that of violent loss, increase symptoms of PGD by hindering meaning making such that the bereft are unable to ‘make sense’ of the death or its aftermath (Milman, Neimeyer, Fitzpatrick, MacKinnon, Muis, & Cohen, under review; Currier, Holland, Coleman, & Neimeyer, 2007; Lichtenthal, Neimeyer, Currier, Roberts, & Jordan, 2013; Neimeyer, Baldwin, & Gillies, 2006; Rozalski, Holland, & Neimeyer, 2017). Building on this research, this study examines which themes of meaning are disrupted specifically following violent loss with the aim of informing preventive interventions that facilitate meaning making in a manner that mitigates symptoms of PGD among the violently bereft.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Prolonged grief symptomatology following violent loss: the mediating role of meaning

Milman

Neimeyer

Fitzpatrick

et al. 2017

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is over-represented among those who have lost loved ones to violent causes. To tailor PGD interventions for this vulnerable population it is critical to examine the aetiology of PGD specifically in the context of violent death bereavement. Previous studies have suggested that violent loss increases symptoms of PGD by hindering the mourner’s ability to make meaning of the death or its aftermath. However, these studies have relied on cross sectional data that preclude genuine prediction and have not differentiated among specific themes of meaning. Objective: This study aimed to identify specific themes of meaning that mediate the detrimental impact of violent loss on subsequent emergence of PGD symptomatology among the violently bereft. Method: A longitudinal, prospective design (N = 171) was used to assess violent loss and themes of meaning an average of six months post-loss allowing for prediction of PGD symptoms an average of eight months later. Results: Violent loss had a significant indirect effect on PGD symptomatology when meaning themes focusing on sense of peace and continuing bonds served as mediators. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the mediating role that specific meaning themes play in the development of PGD symptomatology following violent loss. These findings highlight the potential benefits of applying a meaning-based intervention approach with the violently bereft.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prolonged grief symptomatology following violent loss: the mediating role of meaning

Milman

Neimeyer

Fitzpatrick

et al. 2017

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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“…Building on previous research that demonstrated the mediating role of meaning‐making in the etiology of PGD (Currier, Holland, & Neimeyer, ; Milman et al, ; Rozalski et al, ), the present study is the first to provide evidence indicating that rumination moderates this mediating pathway. Among participants who reported higher levels of rumination, the degree of meaning made early in grief predicted symptoms of PGD more strongly 7–10 months later.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Previous research has made a compelling case for the central role of meaning in the etiology of PGD symptomatology, suggesting that risk factors increase symptoms of PGD by hindering meaning making such that the bereft are unable to “make sense” of the death or its aftermath in their ongoing lives (Currier, Holland, Coleman, & Neimeyer, ; Lichtenthal, Neimeyer, Currier, Roberts, & Jordan, ; Milman et al, ; Rozalski, Holland, & Neimeyer, ). Such research provides an empirical basis for facilitating meaning making among at‐risk grievers as a clinical approach for effectively intervening in the development of PGD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rumination moderates the role of meaning in the development of prolonged grief symptomatology

et al. 2019

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Objective:: To address the etiology of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) by examining whether rumination moderates the role of meaning-making in mediating the impact of PGD risk factors. Method:: A survey assessing PGD risk factors (low social support, insecure attachment, violent loss, neuroticism, and loss of a spouse), meaning, and rumination was administered 2-12 months postloss among adults across North America and Europe (mean age = 44.3, 71.9% female). At a 7-10 months follow-up, symptoms of PGD were assessed (n = 171). Results:: When measuring meaning with the Grief and Meaning Reconstruction Inventory, the moderated mediation pathway was significant for each PGD-risk factor. However, when measuring meaning with the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences-Short Form, the pathway was significant for every risk factors except violent loss.Conclusions:: Rumination appears to moderate meaningmaking in the development of PGD symptomatology. These findings highlight rumination as a target for intervention with atrisk grievers.Author note: This publication is one in a series of separate manuscripts that report findings from an ongoing project. The first manuscript, currently under review, establishes meaning made as a mediator of PGD symptomatology. The second manuscript (Milman et al., 2018), examines which specific themes of meaning mediate the relationship between violent loss and PGD symptomatology. Finally, the current manuscript describes a detrimental relationship between rumination and meaning-making following bereavement. Please contact the authors regarding relevant publications and presentations.This study was conducted jointly with the Jewish

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“…Broadly, compared with missing situations where there is little information or understanding, one may be better able to attribute meaning to, and make sense of, a war‐related loss (e.g., by ascribing social, political, cultural, or religious cause to the event). In addition to amount of information, the violent or traumatic nature of the loss is another factor which differs depending on the context of the disappearance, and which has been shown to influence one's ability to make‐meaning (found to be problematic for meaning‐making; Rozalski, Holland, & Neimeyer, ). Yet, the effect of these factors (i.e., level of information and traumatic nature of the loss) on one's ability to make meaning, as well as on other coping processes in the context of missingness, is currently unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In limbo: A systematic review of psychological responses and coping among people with a missing loved one

2019

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Objective This review explored psychological responses and coping among loved ones left behind when a person is missing. Method A systematic search identified 42 studies that reported data gathered among people with a missing loved one regarding psychological symptoms and/or coping strategies. Studies were arranged according to context of disappearance: forced (a result of war/conflict, abduction, forced separation) or unclear (reason unknown)/unspecified circumstances. Results The most consistent findings for psychological symptoms were reports of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and prolonged grief reactions. When the disappearance was unclear/unspecified, people more often reported use of cognitive avoidance and continuing a bond as coping strategies. When the disappearance was forced, people more often reported use of informal support seeking. Conclusions Further research is warranted to clarify (a) the generalizability of findings to those left behind under circumstances where the ambiguity may be greater and (b) the acceptability of various targeted psychological interventions.

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Circumstances of Death and Complicated Grief: Indirect Associations Through Meaning Made of Loss

Cited by 62 publications

References 37 publications

Prolonged grief symptomatology following violent loss: the mediating role of meaning

Prolonged grief symptomatology following violent loss: the mediating role of meaning

Rumination moderates the role of meaning in the development of prolonged grief symptomatology

In limbo: A systematic review of psychological responses and coping among people with a missing loved one

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