Mediating processes in bereavement: The role of rumination, threatening grief interpretations, and deliberate grief avoidance

Abstract

Limited research so far has examined coping processes that mediate between risk factors and bereavement outcome. Knowledge of these pathways is important, since it helps establish why some bereaved persons are more vulnerable than others and suggests possibilities for intervention. In this international longitudinal study, three potentially critical mediators, namely rumination, threatening grief interpretations and deliberate grief avoidance, were examined in relationship to previously established risk factors (e.g., expectedness of the death, attachment style) and four major outcome variables (grief, depressive symptoms, emotional loneliness and positive mood). Individuals who were recently bereaved (maximum 3 years) filled in questionnaires at three points in time. Results showed that rumination and – to a somewhat lesser extent – threatening grief interpretations played an important role in mediating the effects of various risk factors on outcomes. However, the contribution of these two mediators was dependent on the specific risk factor and outcome measure under consideration. For example, whereas the effect of neuroticism on grief was mediated by both processes (to the extent of 73%), the effect of neuroticism on positive mood was only mediated by rumination and to a smaller extent (23%). A few risk factors, such as current financial situation and spirituality, were not mediated by either coping strategy. Implications of these findings are discussed.