Finding meaning in loss with a "wise" intervention for bereaved young adults
Date
2021
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The death of a loved one often challenges the way individuals view themselves, their relationships, and their futures. Meaning Making (MM) and Meanings Made (MMd) are two potential mechanisms that lead to resolution following a loss, yet less is known about how interventions can help bereaved individuals cope and even grow. The current dissertation employed a series of brief, online experiments in three longitudinal studies. Participants were young adults aged 18 to 23 who reported having experienced the death of a close other more than 6 months ago. In Study 1 (N = 86), the efficacy of a standard intervention with three writing prompts (retell, ponder, reflect) was compared to a control intervention of three neutral writing prompts. While there were no direct condition effects on positive outcomes, writing about the loss increased mid-study MM, which, in turn, increased reports of gratitude at follow-up. In Study 2 (N = 169), the standard prompts were supplemented with a growth prompt and were compared to the standard prompts supplemented with a neutral prompt. There were no differences between the conditions and no evidence of mediation. In Study 3 (N = 48), the growth condition was compared to the standard prompts supplemented with a setback prompt. Again, there were no differences between the conditions and no evidence of mediation. In all three studies, complicated grief was tested as a moderator but yielded null results. Lastly, a series of mini-meta analyses indicated a consistent trend in which MM and MMd at mid-treatment predicted more increase in positive emotions about the loss. ☐ Keywords: Bereavement, meaning making, WISE intervention, narratives
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Keywords
Loss, Wise intervention, Bereaved young adults