Affiliation:
1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology Beijing Normal University China Beijing China
2. Department of Social Work and Social Administration The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
3. Center for Prolonged Grief Columbia School of Social Work New York NY USA
Abstract
Grief‐related beliefs play an important role in bereavement adjustment. This study aimed to investigate the patterns and correlates of grief‐related beliefs among recently bereaved adults (n = 311). Latent class analysis results suggested three meaningful grief belief classes could be identified: the High grief belief class (24.1%), Predominantly counterfactual thoughts class (42.4%), and Low belief class (33.4%). Members in the High grief belief class reported the highest levels of grief symptoms, depression and PTSD symptoms, loneliness, and functional impairment. Compared with the Low belief class, unmarried people, people in poor health, individuals who lost parents, partners, or children, and those who experienced violent or unexpected death were more likely to belong to the High grief belief class. Findings of this study support the importance of examining grief‐related cognitions in research and clinical practice, especially counterfactual thoughts about the death, which may need to be specifically screened and targeted in treatment.
Subject
General Psychology,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous),Developmental and Educational Psychology,General Medicine