Developmental Reengagement Without Depression: A Grounded Theory of Resilience Among Bereaved College Students

Abstract

Bereavement is considered one of the most stressful experiences that young people face, and there are unique considerations for how this impacts college students. Applying a resilience framework to the experiences of bereaved college students can provide a better understanding of their experiences; however, studies on the ways that these individuals themselves define resilience are extremely limited. Furthermore, no studies to date have considered the intersection between college students’ conceptualizations of resilience and the developmental features of emerging adulthood. The authors present the results of a grounded theory study in which 51 bereaved college students completed a questionnaire and 10 were interviewed to identify the age-salient tasks that they use to define resilience. Three primary themes were identified related to resilience: (a) emotional indicators, (b) behavioral indicators, and (c) fixed and/or unidentifiable factors. Findings were analyzed to reveal the bidirectional impact between grief and the developmental features of emerging adulthood.