RESUMEN
The authors compared baseline demographic characteristics, clinical features, and grief-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals bereaved by suicide, accident/homicide and natural causes participating in a complicated grief (CG) treatment clinical trial. Severity of CG and depression and current depression diagnosis did not vary by loss type. After adjusting for baseline demographic features, time since death and relationship to the deceased, those with CG after suicide had the highest rates of lifetime depression, preloss passive suicidal ideation, self-blaming thoughts, and impaired work and social adjustment. Even among this treatment-seeking sample of research participants with CG, suicide survivors may face unique challenges.
Asunto(s)
Aflicción , Muerte , Pesar , Suicidio/psicología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Depresión/epidemiología , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Trastornos por Estrés Postraumático/epidemiología , Ideación Suicida , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Previous research has been inconsistent about the role of attachment avoidance in coping with loss. The present study sought to resolve this issue by examining the potential moderating role of relationship quality with the deceased. The authors used longitudinal data on bereaved spouses (N=50) collected at 4 and 18 months postloss. Three-way effects emerged among attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, and marital quality in the prediction of complicated grief (CG) symptoms at 18 months, controlling for 4-month symptoms. Findings indicated that, in the context of high but not low marital quality, persons with a dismissingly avoidant attachment style (high avoidance, low anxiety) experienced marked reductions in CG symptoms from 4 to 18 months. Findings clarify the role of attachment avoidance in coping with loss and underscore that relationship quality is a critical factor in the attachment-grief relationship.