Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Tracy Marsh

Abstract

AbstractThere is increasing empirical evidence that bereaved individuals vary considerably in their reactions to loss and that individuals experience varying pathways through the grief process. This quantitative correlational study advanced understanding of Bonanno’s pathways to resilient grief theory and contributed to the strengths-based grief and bereavement literature by examining if hardiness commitment, control, and challenge were significantly related to grief resolution and posttraumatic growth (PTG), controlling for participant age, depression, religiosity, and time since the death of a spouse, in a sample of 218 widowed women aged 50 or older. Descriptive findings revealed that study participants were in their mid-60s, and 75% had lost their spouse in the past five to 10 years. The six research questions were addressed by conducting two hierarchical multiple linear regressions (HMLR), one for each of the two criterion variables of grief resolution and PTG. Results from the first HMLR showed that as levels of hardiness commitment increased, so did grief resolution; in addition, higher levels of depression were significantly associated with lower levels of grief resolution. Findings from the second HMLR indicated that higher levels of hardiness commitment and control were significantly linked to PTG. Moreover, a higher number of years since loss and higher levels of religiosity were significantly related to higher levels of PTG. The identification of personal risk (e.g., depression) and protective (e.g., commitment, control, religiosity) factors concerning resilient grief outcomes may help to inform the development of grief and bereavement initiatives that build resilience and enhance the quality of life among older adult widowed women leading to positive social change.

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