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Abayneh M, Rent S, Ubuane PO, Carter BS, Deribessa SJ, Kassa BB, Tekleab AM, Kukora SK. Perinatal palliative care in sub-Saharan Africa: recommendations for practice, future research, and guideline development. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1217209. [PMID: 37435165 PMCID: PMC10331424 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1217209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest burden of global neonatal mortality (43%) and neonatal mortality rate (NMR): 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. The WHO recognizes palliative care (PC) as an integral, yet underutilized, component of perinatal care for pregnancies at risk of stillbirth or early neonatal death, and for neonates with severe prematurity, birth trauma or congenital anomalies. Despite bearing a disproportionate burden of neonatal mortality, many strategies to care for dying newborns and support their families employed in high-income countries (HICs) are not available in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Many institutions and professional societies in LMICs lack guidelines or recommendations to standardize care, and existing guidelines may have limited adherence due to lack of space, equipment, supplies, trained professionals, and high patient load. In this narrative review, we compare perinatal/neonatal PC in HICs and LMICs in sub-Saharan Africa to identify key areas for future, research-informed, interventions that might be tailored to the local sociocultural contexts and propose actionable recommendations for these resource-deprived environments that may support clinical care and inform future professional guideline development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahlet Abayneh
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sharla Rent
- Duke Department of Pediatrics, Duke School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Peter Odion Ubuane
- Department of Pediatrics, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Brian S. Carter
- Division of Neonatology and Bioethics Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, United States
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, Universityof Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, United States
| | - Solomie Jebessa Deribessa
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Betelehem B. Kassa
- College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Atnafu Mekonnen Tekleab
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Stephanie K. Kukora
- Division of Neonatology and Bioethics Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, United States
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, Universityof Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, United States
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2
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Lau CYH, Tov W. Effects of positive reappraisal and self-distancing on the meaningfulness of everyday negative events. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1093412. [PMID: 36968696 PMCID: PMC10034987 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1093412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Current work on meaning-making has primarily focused on major negative life events such as trauma and loss, leaving common daily adversities unexplored. This study aimed to examine how utilizing meaning-making strategies such as positive reappraisal and self-distancing (in isolation or in combination) can facilitate an adaptive processing of these daily negative experiences. Overall meaning and facets of meaning (coherence, purpose, and significance/mattering) were assessed at both global and situational levels. Results suggested that positive reappraisal was generally effective for enhancing situational meaning but not under all conditions. Specifically, when negative experiences were high on emotional intensity, reflecting on the experience from a distanced (third-person) perspective enhanced coherence and existential mattering more than engaging in positive reappraisal. However, when negative experiences were low on intensity, distanced reflection led to less coherence and mattering than positive reappraisal. The findings of this study elucidated the importance of examining the multidimensional construct of meaning at the facet level and highlighted the importance of applying different coping strategies to effectively make meaning out of daily negative experiences.
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Oreg A, Perez AS, Timor-Shlevin S. "So, whose milk was it? … It became all of ours, together": A relational autoethnographic study of an interactional human milk donation process through bereavement. DEATH STUDIES 2022; 47:938-947. [PMID: 36352509 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2143936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Most of the research on human milk donations after prenatal loss has focused on donations to milk banks in which donors and recipients are anonymous to each other. In contrast, in this Israel-based study, we focus on an ongoing, direct interaction between a bereaved donor and recipients who adopted a new baby. We conducted a relational autoethnography, wherein multiple researchers present their life experiences and interpersonal contexts and meanings. We suggest that directed, interactional bereaved milk donation allows both parties to assign symbolic meanings to the milk, which may help their grieving process and can create relational healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Oreg
- The Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Alison Stern Perez
- The Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Shachar Timor-Shlevin
- The Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Baños RM, Desdentado L, Vara MD, Escrivá-Martínez T, Herrero R, Miragall M, Tomás JM. How the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Consequences Affect the Presence of and Search for Meaning of Life: A Longitudinal Study. JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES 2022; 24:17-33. [PMID: 36312909 PMCID: PMC9595083 DOI: 10.1007/s10902-022-00592-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The presence of meaning in life (PML) and the search for meaning in life (SML) are crucial when facing difficult times. Although several theoretical frameworks have tried to explain the dynamics of meaning in life during adversity, empirical evidence about interactions among both constructs using longitudinal designs is scarce. This study examined the trajectories of both PML and SML during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Spain. In total, 220 adults fulfilled an online survey during two periods: a strict and a relaxed lockdown period. Latent growth models showed that both PML and SML declined slightly during the strict lockdown, but they reached a plateau during the relaxed lockdown. Results also showed that age and having a partner predicted higher PML and lower SML at baseline, whereas being male predicted higher scores on PML. PML and SML were negatively associated at baseline, higher SML at baseline was related to a steeper decreasing PML slope during the strict lockdown, and the PML and SML slopes in the relaxed lockdown period were negatively related. This study contributes to better understanding longitudinal fluctuations of meaning in life in situations of adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Mª Baños
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lorena Desdentado
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mª Dolores Vara
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tamara Escrivá-Martínez
- Polibienestar Research Institute, University of Valencia, Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana Spain
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rocío Herrero
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, Teruel, Spain
| | - Marta Miragall
- CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation, and Psychological Treatments, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - José M. Tomás
- Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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5
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Sherman AC, Williams ML, Amick BC, Hudson TJ, Messias EL, Simonton-Atchley S. Adjustment to the COVID-19 pandemic: associations with global and situational meaning. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022:1-16. [PMID: 35813567 PMCID: PMC9256532 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03354-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 has created pervasive upheaval and uncertainty in communities around the world. This investigation evaluated associations between discrete dimensions of personal meaning and psychological adjustment to the pandemic among community residents in a southern US state. In this cross-sectional study, 544 respondents were assessed during a period of reopening but accelerating infection rates. Validated measures were used to evaluate theoretically distinct dimensions of perceived global meaning (Meaning-in-Life Questionnaire) and pandemic-specific meaning (Meaning in Illness Scale). Adjustment outcomes included perceived stress, pandemic-related helplessness, and acceptance of the pandemic. In multivariate models that controlled for demographic and pandemic-related factors, stronger attained global meaning (i.e., perceptions that life is generally meaningful) and attained situational meaning (i.e., perceptions that the pandemic experience was comprehensible) were related to better adjustment on all three outcomes (all p's < .001). In contrast, seeking situational meaning (i.e., ongoing efforts to find coherence in the situation) was associated with poorer adjustment on all indices (all p's < .001). Results offer novel information regarding theoretically salient dimensions of meaning, which may have direct relevance for understanding how community residents adapt to the challenges of a major public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen C. Sherman
- Behavioral Medicine Division, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, #756, 4301 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205 USA
| | - Mark L. Williams
- Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Benjamin C. Amick
- Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Teresa J. Hudson
- Center for Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Erick L. Messias
- Faculty Affairs and Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR USA
- Present Address: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Stephanie Simonton-Atchley
- Behavioral Medicine Division, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, #756, 4301 W. Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205 USA
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6
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Nowicki GJ, Ślusarska B, Zboina B, Jędrzejewska A, Kotus M. Factors Predicting Post-Traumatic Positive and Negative Psychological Changes Experienced by Nurses during a Pandemic COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127073. [PMID: 35742321 PMCID: PMC9223076 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
It is common knowledge that COVID-19 affects physiopathological changes in all systems of the human body. On the other hand, events related to the COVID-19 pandemic also have a significant impact on the social and mental sphere of human functioning. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between selected sociodemographic variables and selected subjective cognitive resources, and the positive and negative perception of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in a group of nurses working in Poland. The computer-assisted web interviewing method was conducted between 1 and 15 May 2020. Participants were requested to complete the following questionnaires: The Changes in Outlook Questionnaire (CIOQ), The Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), The Safety Experience Questionnaire (SEQ), and The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Three-hundred and twenty fivenurses working all over Poland participated in the study. Their mean age was 39.18 ± 11.16 years. A higher average level was noted among the surveyed nurses in the Positive Change subscale (18.56 ± 4.04). In a multivariate model, taking into account both sociodemographic and cognitive variables, the level of perceived traumatic stress, the level of social support, a sense of security, reflection on safety and a sense of meaning and meaning in life were independent predictors of a positive perception of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those variables explained as much as 37% of the dependent variable, and the nature of the relationship was positive. While we are still a long way from understanding the full range of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and psychosocial well-being, it is possible that in this challenging context there are many individual resources available to perceive the effects of the current pandemic positively. Therefore, they should be strengthened through the development and implementation of intervention programs to improve the mental state of nurses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Józef Nowicki
- Department of Family and Geriatric Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 6 Str., PL-20-081 Lublin, Poland; (B.Ś.); (A.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-814-486-810
| | - Barbara Ślusarska
- Department of Family and Geriatric Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 6 Str., PL-20-081 Lublin, Poland; (B.Ś.); (A.J.)
| | - Bożena Zboina
- Department of Pedagogy and Health Sciences, College of Business and Entreprise, Akademicka 20 Str., PL-27-400 Ostrowiec Świetokrzyski, Poland;
| | - Aneta Jędrzejewska
- Department of Family and Geriatric Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 6 Str., PL-20-081 Lublin, Poland; (B.Ś.); (A.J.)
| | - Marzena Kotus
- Department of Anaesthesiological and Intensive Care Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 7 Str., PL-20-093 Lublin, Poland;
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Van der Hallen R, Godor BP. COVID-19 pandemic-related posttraumatic growth in a small cohort of university students: A 1-year longitudinal study. Psychiatry Res 2022; 312:114541. [PMID: 35429912 PMCID: PMC8979838 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all areas of life, with severe potential consequences for people's mental health. Posttraumatic growth (PTG), a positive psychological change that may develop following a traumatic event, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic has only received little attention. The current study aimed to investigate (1) the prevalence of PTG within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) which psychological aspects predict COVID-19 pandemic-related PTG using a 1-year longitudinal design. A sample of 70 participants completed a survey on COVID-19, posttraumatic stress, emotional well-being, coping styles, determinates of resilience, and PTG at both T1, May 2020, and T2, May 2021. Results reveal moderate levels of PTG for about one in five participants at both T1 and T2 (21% and 23%, respectively). Moreover, PTG at T1 and T2 were moderate to strongly, positively correlated, r = 0.62. Posttraumatic stress and social support were found to positively predict PTG at T1, while positive affect and social skills were found to positively predict PTG at both T1 and T2, βs = 0.22-.52. Implications of the current findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Van der Hallen
- Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3062 PA, The Netherlands.
| | - Brian P Godor
- Department of Psychology, Education & Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3062 PA, The Netherlands
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8
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Martino ML, Lemmo D, Gargiulo A, Barberio D, Abate V, Freda MF. Processing Breast Cancer Experience in Under-Fifty Women: Longitudinal Trajectories of Narrative Sense Making Functions. JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIVIST PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/10720537.2022.2043208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Lemmo
- Department of Humanities, Federico II University Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Gargiulo
- Department of Humanities, Federico II University Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Barberio
- Clinical Psychology Unit, National Cancer Institute “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Abate
- Clinical Psychology Unit, National Cancer Institute “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy
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9
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Yu Y. Thwarted Belongingness Hindered Successful Aging in Chinese Older Adults: Roles of Positive Mental Health and Meaning in Life. Front Psychol 2022; 13:839125. [PMID: 35282264 PMCID: PMC8907150 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.839125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging of population has brought great challenges to many regions throughout the world. It has been demonstrated that interpersonal relationship is closely related to the experiences of aging for older adults. However, it still remains unknown how and under what conditions thwarted belongingness links to successful aging. This study examined the relationship between thwarted belongingness and successful aging and tested the mediating role of positive mental health and the moderating role of meaning in life. Community-dwelling older adults (n = 339) aged 60-75 years recruited in Chongqing, China completed self-measures of thwarted belongingness, successful aging, meaning in life, and positive mental health. Correlation analyses showed that successful aging was associated with less thwarted belongingness, better positive mental health, and higher levels of meaning in life. Positive mental health was found to totally mediate the negative effect of thwarted belongingness on successful aging. Moderated mediation analyses further revealed that two components of meaning in life (present of meaning and search for meaning) attenuated the indirect effect of thwarted belongingness on successful aging via positive mental health. This study highlights the protective roles of positive mental health and meaning in life and addressed cultural aspects in the process of successful aging among Chinese older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongju Yu
- Department of Social Work, School of International Law and Sociology, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, China
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10
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Jin S, Zheng L, Wen J, Miao M. The relationship between active coping and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of meaning in life. J Health Psychol 2021; 27:2685-2695. [PMID: 34886698 DOI: 10.1177/13591053211062347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to examine the relationship between active coping and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate the underlying mechanism based on meaning making theory. We conducted a two-wave survey and recruited 521 Chinese adults (aged 18-65). Results show that all three active coping strategies (personal hygiene practice, support seeking, and positive reappraisal) at T1 was positively associated with T2 hope. Importantly, T2 meaning in life serves as a mediator between T1 active coping and T2 hope. Our findings suggest that active coping could be an effective approach to maintain mental health by making meaning and promoting hope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Jin
- School of Sociology, China University of Political Science and Law, China
| | - Lei Zheng
- School of Economics and Managemet, Fuzhou University, China
| | - Jie Wen
- School of Sociology, China University of Political Science and Law, China
| | - Miao Miao
- Department of Medical Psychology, School of Health Humanities, Peking University, China
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11
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Ferreira-Valente A, Fontes F, Pais-Ribeiro J, Jensen MP. The Meaning Making Model Applied to Community-Dwelling Adults with Chronic Pain. J Pain Res 2021; 14:2295-2311. [PMID: 34349554 PMCID: PMC8326769 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s308607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Chronic pain is a multidimensional experience that is influenced by biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors. The Meaning Making Model is a recent cognitive behavioral model that has been developed to understand how psychosocial factors influence adjustment to stressful events, such as having a chronic illness. This qualitative study aims to understand the potential utility of this model for understanding the role of meaning making in adjustment to chronic pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen community-dwelling adults with chronic low back pain or chronic pain due to osteoarthritis participated in four focus groups. Participants were asked open-ended questions about their pain experience, pain-related beliefs, meaning of pain, and the perceived association between pain and their meaning in life and sense of purpose. Data were submitted to thematic analysis and the identified themes were considered in light of the Meaning Making Model. RESULTS Three overarching themes emerged, each of which included two themes. The first overarching theme - "appraised meaning of pain" - included the themes "causal attributions" and "primary appraisals." The second - "meaning making processes" - included the themes "assimilation" and "accommodation." The third - "meanings made" - included the themes "pain as an opportunity" and "acceptance." CONCLUSION The key themes that emerged as individuals with chronic pain discussed pain and its impact are consistent with those that would be hypothesized as important from the Meaning Making Model, providing preliminary support for the utility of this model in the context of chronic pain. People with chronic pain appear to appraise pain in terms of its cause, controllability, threat, loss, or challenge. When a discrepancy between the appraised meaning of pain and one's global meaning emerged, participants engaged in meaning making processes (accommodation and assimilation), resulting in meanings made, such as a reappraised meaning of pain, perceptions of growth, and acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Ferreira-Valente
- William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Fernando Fontes
- Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Pais-Ribeiro
- William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mark P Jensen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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12
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Shekriladze I, Javakhishvili N, Chkhaidze N. Culture Related Factors May Shape Coping During Pandemics. Front Psychol 2021; 12:634078. [PMID: 34093315 PMCID: PMC8170015 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.634078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to examine how anxiety related to different styles of coping during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these relationships were moderated by the cultural orientations of individualism/collectivism and a person’s sense of meaning in life. A sample of 849 participants from Georgia completed an online survey during the final stage of lockdown. To measure the main variables, we used the State Anxiety Inventory, the Horizontal and Vertical Individualism and Collectivism Scale, the Meaning of Life Questionnaire, the COVID-19 Worry Scale, and the Ways of Coping Scale tailored to COVID-19 pandemic. The latter measured rational coping via the subscales of information accessing/processing and action-planning coping, and affective coping – via the subscales of passive-submissive and avoidant coping. Results suggested that anxiety positively predicted both affective coping styles and negatively predicted the action-planning coping style, while COVID-19 worry predicted all coping styles; presence of meaning in life positively predicted both rational coping styles and negatively predicted the avoidant coping style, while search for meaning positively predicted all coping styles; individualism negatively predicted the passive-submissive style and positively predicted the action-planning style, whereas collectivism predicted all coping styles; furthermore, individualism and collectivism moderated the link between anxiety and the passive-submissive coping style, presence of meaning in life moderated the link between anxiety and avoidant coping style, while search for meaning in life moderated the link between anxiety and the action-planning coping style. Overall, the findings enrich the cultural transactional theory of stress and coping, and generate insights for the culture-sensitive approach to the meaning in life. The results were conceptualized vis-a-vis Georgia’s intermediate position between clear-cut individualism and clear-cut collectivism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ia Shekriladze
- Dimitri Uznadze Institute of Psychology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Nino Javakhishvili
- Dimitri Uznadze Institute of Psychology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Nino Chkhaidze
- Dimitri Uznadze Institute of Psychology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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13
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Know thyself: mindfulness partially explains the relationship between personal wisdom and meaning making. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01853-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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14
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Matheson K, Asokumar A, Anisman H. Resilience: Safety in the Aftermath of Traumatic Stressor Experiences. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:596919. [PMID: 33408619 PMCID: PMC7779406 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.596919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between adverse experiences and the emergence of pathology has often focused on characteristics of the stressor or of the individual (stressor appraisals, coping strategies). These features are thought to influence multiple biological processes that favor the development of mental and physical illnesses. Less often has attention focused on the aftermath of traumatic experiences, and the importance of safety and reassurance that is necessary for longer-term well-being. In some cases (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) this may be reflected by a failure of fear extinction, whereas in other instances (e.g., historical trauma), the uncertainty about the future might foster continued anxiety. In essence, the question becomes one of how individuals attain feelings of safety when it is fully understood that the world is not necessarily a safe place, uncertainties abound, and feelings of agency are often illusory. We consider how individuals acquire resilience in the aftermath of traumatic and chronic stressors. In this respect, we review characteristics of stressors that may trigger particular biological and behavioral coping responses, as well as factors that undermine their efficacy. To this end, we explore stressor dynamics and social processes that foster resilience in response to specific traumatic, chronic, and uncontrollable stressor contexts (intimate partner abuse; refugee migration; collective historical trauma). We point to resilience factors that may comprise neurobiological changes, such as those related to various stressor-provoked hormones, neurotrophins, inflammatory immune, microbial, and epigenetic processes. These behavioral and biological stress responses may influence, and be influenced by, feelings of safety that come about through relationships with others, spiritual and place-based connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Matheson
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,The Royal Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ajani Asokumar
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hymie Anisman
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,The Royal Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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15
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Fischer IC, Shanahan ML, Hirsh AT, Stewart JC, Rand KL. The relationship between meaning in life and post-traumatic stress symptoms in US military personnel: A meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2020; 277:658-670. [PMID: 32911216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Subjective meaning in life has been theorized to play a critical role in the adjustment to traumatic events. However, its association with post-traumatic stress symptoms has not been quantitatively reviewed. METHODS Informed by Park's integrated meaning-making model and evidenced-based psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, the goals of this meta-analysis were to: (1) to determine the direction and magnitude of the association between meaning in life and post-traumatic stress symptoms; and (2) to examine potential moderators of this association (i.e., age, sex, race, marital status, type of trauma, and meaning in life conceptualization). CINAHL, Embase, PILOT, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science core collection databases were searched. RESULTS A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on 26 associations (N = 9,751). A significant, moderate, negative relationship was found between meaning in life and post-traumatic stress symptoms (r = -0.41; 95% CI: -0.47 to -0.35, k = 25). No significant moderators were detected. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that meaning in life plays a crucial role in adjustment to traumatic events. Development and testing of randomized controlled trials to determine whether increases in meaning in life result in reductions of post-traumatic stress in US military personnel may facilitate ongoing efforts aimed at recovery from trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Fischer
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Mackenzie L Shanahan
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Adam T Hirsh
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Jesse C Stewart
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Kevin L Rand
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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16
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Kawashima D, Kawano K. Meanings of Loss Among Japanese Suicide Bereaved: Content Analysis of Open‐Ended Responses
1. JAPANESE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jpr.12311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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17
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The Psychometric Properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in Patients with Life-Threatening Illnesses. ScientificWorldJournal 2020; 2020:8361602. [PMID: 32963500 PMCID: PMC7486629 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8361602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Meaning in life is one of the psychological domains that is most severely affected in patients with life-threatening illnesses. The importance of meaning-making mandates the development of reliable tools to assess this construct. Steger's Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) is one of the most valid and reliable instruments that determines the search for and presence of meaning in life. The present study was conducted to provide psychometric data on the MLQ in a sample of patients with life-threatening illnesses. Methods The MLQ was completed by 301 patients (aged 20–80 years) diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses (cancer and multiple sclerosis) and referred to hospitals. Confirmatory factor analysis and Pearson's correlation test were used to determine the construct validity of the questionnaire. Results The confirmatory factor analysis supported the original two-factor model of the MLQ, comprised of the presence of meaning (five items) and search for meaning (five items). The responses to the MLQ did not differ by sociodemographic factors. Most importantly, contrary to previous findings, the correlation between the two subscales, i.e., search for meaning and presence of meaning, was significant and positive. Conclusion The results showed that the MLQ is a valid and reliable measure for assessing meaning in life that can be applied in research on meaning in life among other patient populations.
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18
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Marco JH, Alonso S, Baños R. Meaning-making as a mediator of anxiety and depression reduction during cognitive behavioral therapy intervention in participants with adjustment disorders. Clin Psychol Psychother 2020; 28:325-333. [PMID: 32881109 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
There is a consensus among researchers about the link between low meaning in life and anxiety and depressive symptoms. One unanswered question is whether meaning-making is a mediator of the change in anxiety and depression symptoms in participants with adjustment disorders during cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment. The aims of this study were (a) to analyse whether there was meaning-making during the application of the CBT, (b) to analyse whether meaning-making was a mediator of anxiety psychopathology and (c) to analyse whether meaning-making was a mediator of depressive symptoms. The sample was composed of 115 patients who satisfied the full Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 criteria for adjustment disorder as their primary diagnosis and completed CBT treatment in a primary care mental health service: 74.78% women, n = 86, and 25.22% men, n = 29, with a mean age of 41.89 (standard deviation [SD] = 10.39) years. The diagnosis was established using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5), and participants filled out the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory and Purpose in Life questionnaires. The therapists were clinical psychologists with experience in clinical assessment. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two mediation analyses using the bootstrap method were performed. The results indicated that (a) There was meaning-making during the CBT because the treated sample showed a statistically significant improvement in meaning in life, and (b) meaning-making during the CBT was a partial mediator between anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms before and after the treatment. The present study suggests that meaning in life could be an important variable in the psychopathology of adjustment disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- José H Marco
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sandra Alonso
- Catedra UMIVALE Innovación e Investigación en la Patologia del Trabajo, Valencia, Spain.,Escuela de Doctorado, Universidad Católica de Valencia, San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosa Baños
- Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.,Ciber Fisiopatologia Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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19
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Oreg A. The grief ritual of extracting and donating human milk after perinatal loss. Soc Sci Med 2020; 265:113312. [PMID: 32889168 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Perinatal loss is a major life crisis involving multiple losses, including the loss of future hopes and dreams, of being pregnant, and of self-esteem, to name a few. In the present study I focus on mothers who experienced perinatal loss and chose to extract and donate their human milk to nonprofit milk banks. Through an analysis of 88 women's personal testimonials, collected between 2017 and 2019, I uncover the ritualistic attributes of the extraction and donation process. The bereaved mothers in this study experienced ambiguous loss, comprising the combination of the physical absence and psychological presence of their baby. The process of extracting and donating their milk constitutes a grief ritual, allowing mothers to maintain and reconstruct the continuing bonds with their babies. The present study extends current understandings of organ donation in times of loss, highlighting the unique nature and consequences of the milk donation process through its conceptualization as a grief ritual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelet Oreg
- The Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
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20
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Huang M, Schmiedek F, Habermas T. Only some attempts at meaning making are successful: The role of change‐relatedness and positive implications for the self. J Pers 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manxia Huang
- Department of Psychology Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Florian Schmiedek
- DIPF Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Tilmann Habermas
- Department of Psychology Goethe University Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main Germany
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21
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Jithoo V, Marchetti-Mercer M, Swartz L. The search for significance: meaning making in elderly South Africans following the emigration of their adult children. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1177/0081246320907029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Globalization and the mobility of people across domestic and international boundaries have become part of the rhythm and tempo of the modern world, and increasingly the elderly remaining behind comprise a sizable and integral part of contemporary society. Their successful adaptation has become an important consideration not only for them, but for their families and society. This article explores the coping strategies used in finding coherence when confronting this disruptive life event. As part of a larger study exploring the impact of South African emigration on the elderly, we interviewed 25 elderly parents of skilled emigrants. Using thematic analysis, we show how these parents coped with ambiguous loss of emigration, making use of technology and alternative configurations of identity and care to conceptualize their lives and current contexts. More research is needed to understand migration and aging, an issue likely to become more prominent.
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22
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Yang N, Lee SM. The development and validation of the Meaning Making in Grief Scale. DEATH STUDIES 2020; 46:178-188. [PMID: 32048559 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1725929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The current study aimed to develop and investigate the psychometric properties of the Meaning Making in Grief Scale based on contemporary approaches to bereavement adaptation as a meaning reconstruction process. The research entailed three steps: scale development, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The current 21-item scale was composed of three subscales: Meaning of the Significant Other, Being Present, and Coping and Growth. Support was found for the reliability and validity of the scale, as reflected in the high levels of coherence of the subscales and their hypothesized correlation with established measures of meaning and grief symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- NaYeon Yang
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Sang Min Lee
- Department of Education, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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23
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Abstract
I examine: whether specific emotion-focused coping and help-seeking strategies adopted by older widow(er)s 6 months postloss affect depressive, anger, and yearning symptoms 1 year later; whether these effects are accounted for by psychosocial factors which guide the selection of coping strategies; and the extent to which patterns differ by gender. I estimate nested multivariate OLS regression models using data from the Changing Lives of Older Couples, a prospective multiwave survey of spousal bereavement (N = 164). Widows are more likely to use positive reframing, active distraction, help-seeking, and turning to God for strength, whereas widowers tend to use avoidant strategies, and are more likely to seek connection with their late spouse. Avoidant strategies like trying to forget and dulling the pain with alcohol increase depressive and anger symptoms; substance use is particularly consequential for men's anger symptoms. Positive reframing increases depressive symptoms yet mitigates against anger. Seeking comfort from God also protects against anger. Seeking help from a doctor increases anger and depressive symptoms in baseline models, although effects are accounted for by selection. Maladaptive coping strategies are linked with anger, whereas depression and yearning are relatively immune to coping strategies, reflecting the relatively short-lived time course of these two symptoms. The results carry implications for bereavement theories and mental health interventions targeting older widow(er)s. Older widowers who cope by turning to unhealthy behaviors are especially prone to anger, which has documented physical health effects and may alienate potential sources of social support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Carr
- Department of Sociology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Den Elzen K. Therapeutic writing through the lens of the grief memoir and dialogical self theory. JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIVIST PSYCHOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/10720537.2020.1717136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Den Elzen
- School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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25
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Dyregrov A, Kristensen P. Information to Bereaved Families Following Catastrophic Losses. Why Is It Important? JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2019.1710954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Atle Dyregrov
- Faculty of Psychology, Center for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Pål Kristensen
- Faculty of Psychology, Center for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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26
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Wang Y, Lippke S, Miao M, Gan Y. Restoring meaning in life by meaning-focused coping: The role of self-distancing. Psych J 2019; 8:386-396. [PMID: 31264391 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Meaning-focused coping is an important coping strategy in the face of stressful life events. The "construal level theory" and recent research suggest that reflecting on a stressful situation from a self-distanced stance (temporal or spatial) allows individuals to find meaning in negative life events; however, its long-term effects have not yet been explored. The present research had two main goals: (1) to determine whether distanced meaning making enhances meaning in life and (2) to explore the underlying emotional mechanism of this effect. We hypothesized that positive affect (relative to negative affect) may play a more important role in the relationship between self-distanced meaning making and meaning in life. A total of 136 university students were recruited as participants in two studies. The participants were prospectively instructed to make meaning of a highly stressful event. They were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (a) self-immersed, (b) temporally distanced, or (c) spatially distanced. The findings indicate that both the temporally and spatially distanced perspectives in the meaning-making process can enhance meaning in life and that they do so by promoting positive affect. Implications for future research on meaning-focused coping and self-distancing are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- School of Business Administration, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Dalian, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Sonia Lippke
- Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Miao Miao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.,School of Sociology, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China
| | - Yiqun Gan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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27
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McDevitt-Murphy ME, Zakarian RJ, Luciano MT, Olin CC, Mazzulo NN, Neimeyer RA. Alcohol use and coping in a cross-sectional study of African American homicide survivors. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2019; 20:135-150. [PMID: 31044649 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2019.1598905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The loss of a loved one to homicide is associated with considerable distress, often in the form of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complicated grief (CG), and alcohol misuse. Yet alcohol-related problems and loss from a homicide are issues that disproportionally affect African Americans. The present study investigated alcohol use in a sample of 54 African American homicide survivors. Although there was a low prevalence of hazardous drinking, alcohol use was associated with higher levels of PTSD, complicated grief, and depression severity. In addition, scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were correlated with active emotional coping and avoidant emotional coping. In analyses of PTSD symptom clusters, emotional numbing and hyperarousal symptoms were significantly correlated with AUDIT total score.
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28
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Martino ML, Lemmo D, Gargiulo A, Barberio D, Abate V, Avino F, Tortoriello R. Underfifty Women and Breast Cancer: Narrative Markers of Meaning-Making in Traumatic Experience. Front Psychol 2019; 10:618. [PMID: 30984067 PMCID: PMC6448035 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A diagnosis of breast cancer is considered a potential traumatic event associated with physical and psychological effects. In literature, an exploration of breast cancer experience in young women is lacking, able to shed light on the narrative processes of meaning-making of the experience in specific phases of treatment, as may be the initial impact with the onset of the cancer. Meaning-making processes are determinant aspects when dealing with traumatic events. The research took place at National Cancer Institute Pascale of Naples. We collected 50 ad hoc narrative interviews to explore the different domains of the experience with under-fifty women at the first phase of the hospitalization. The Narrative Interviews were analyzed through a qualitative methodology constructed ad hoc. Starting from the functions of meaning-making that the narrative mediate we have highlight the different modes to articulate the narrative functions: The Organization of Temporality: chronicled (38%), actualized (26%), suspended (18%), interrupted (16%), and confused (2%). The Search for Meaning: internalized (42%); generalized (24%); externalized (18%); suspended (16%). The Emotional Regulation: disconnected (44%), splitted (28%), pervasive (26%), and connected (2%). The Organization of self-other Relationship: supportive (46%), avoidant (22%), overturned (16%), and sacrificial (16%). The Finding Benefit: revaluating (38%), flattened (34%), and postponed (28%). The Orientation to Action: combative (38%), blocked (36%), and suspended (26%). Findings capture the impact with the onset of the cancer, identifying both risk and resource aspects. The study allows to identify a specific use of narrative device by under-fifty women who impacted with the experience of breast cancer. The ways in which meaning-making functions are articulated highlight the specificity of the first phase of the treatment of the cancer. From a clinical psychology point of view, our findings can be used as clinical narrative markers to grasp, in a diachronic way, the process of meaning-making, integration, and coping during the first phase of breast cancer experience in young women. We consider it valuable to increase longitudinal studies with young women to highlight trajectories of meaning-making during the different phases of the treatment to think about personalized intervention practices diachronically to the experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Martino
- Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Lemmo
- Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Gargiulo
- Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Barberio
- Clinical Psychology Unit, National Cancer Institute G. Pascale Foundation (IRCCS), Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Abate
- Clinical Psychology Unit, National Cancer Institute G. Pascale Foundation (IRCCS), Naples, Italy
| | - Franca Avino
- Breast Surgery, National Cancer Institute G. Pascale Foundation (IRCCS), Naples, Italy
| | - Raffaele Tortoriello
- Breast Surgery, National Cancer Institute G. Pascale Foundation (IRCCS), Naples, Italy
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29
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Zakarian RJ, McDevitt-Murphy ME, Bellet BW, Neimeyer RA, Burke LA. Relations Among Meaning Making, PTSD, and Complicated Grief Following Homicide Loss. JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2019.1565111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Zakarian
- aDepartment of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Benjamin W. Bellet
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert A. Neimeyer
- aDepartment of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, Portland, Oregon, USA
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30
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Marco JH, Alonso S. Meaning in life buffers the association between clinical anxiety and global maladjustment in participants with common mental disorders on sick leave. Psychiatry Res 2019; 271:548-553. [PMID: 30554101 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An important goal of mental health specialists is to improve the quality of life and the adaptation of people with common mental disorders on sick leave. Meaning in life is a protective factor for people adjusting to distress and negative events. This study explores the buffering role of meaning in life in the relationship between clinical anxiety or negative affect and maladjustment in participants with common mental disorders on sick leave. The sample was 167 participants with Adjustment, Anxiety and, Depressive Disorders; n = 115 were women and n = 52 men. Participants' mean age M = 42.16 (SD = 9.91) years. We performed zero-order correlations and hierarchical regression analyses. Meaning in life moderated and buffered the association between clinical anxiety or negative affect and global maladjustment to daily life. These findings suggest that Meaning in life is a relevant variable in the adjustment of common mental disorders on sick leave.
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Affiliation(s)
- José H Marco
- Universidad de Valencia, Facultad de Psicología, Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, España.
| | - Sandra Alonso
- Escuela de doctorado. Universidad Católica de Valencia, San Vicente Mártir, España; Catedra UMIVALE Innovación e investigación en patologías del trabajo, Valencia, España
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31
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Morgan Consoli ML, Unzueta EG, Delucio K, Llamas J. What Shade of Spirituality? Exploring Spirituality, Religiosity, Meaning Making, and Thriving Among Latina/o Undergraduates. COUNSELING AND VALUES 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/cvj.12090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily G. Unzueta
- Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology; University of California; Santa Barbara
| | - Kevin Delucio
- Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies; Western Washington University
| | - Jasmin Llamas
- Department of Counseling Psychology; Santa Clara University
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32
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Christian KM, Aoun SM, Breen LJ. How religious and spiritual beliefs explain prolonged grief disorder symptoms. DEATH STUDIES 2018; 43:316-323. [PMID: 29757102 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2018.1469054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the importance of religious and spiritual beliefs in daily life in explaining prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptomatology. Participants were 588 bereaved adults who completed a questionnaire. The importance of spiritual beliefs in daily life explained a small to medium, significant 3% of variance in PGD symptoms, but religious beliefs in daily life did not. Individuals who placed moderate importance on spiritual beliefs in their daily life may experience more intense grief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M Christian
- a School of Psychology , Curtin University , Perth , Australia
| | - Samar M Aoun
- b School of Psychology and Public Health , La Trobe University , Victoria , Australia
- c Institute for Health Research , Notre Dame University , Western Australia , Australia
| | - Lauren J Breen
- a School of Psychology , Curtin University , Perth , Australia
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33
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Synard J, Gazzola N. Moving Towards Positive Well-Being in the Face of Adversity: What Explains Individual Variations in Well-Being Following Job Loss? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COUNSELLING 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10447-018-9359-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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34
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Gerrish NJ, Bailey S. Maternal Grief: A Qualitative Investigation of Mothers’ Responses to the Death of a Child From Cancer. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2018; 81:197-241. [DOI: 10.1177/0030222818762190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study explored bereaved mothers’ responses to the death of a child from cancer, with a focus on identifying adaptive and complicated grief reactions. To understand the unique meaning of their loss, in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 mothers at two time points. Interpretative phenomenological analysis—guided by meaning-making theories of loss—revealed five master categories: the perceptions of the child’s life with cancer and death from the disease, changed self-identity, coping style, developing an ongoing relationship to the deceased child, and the postdeath social environment. Each of these master categories and associated subthemes provided insights into the characteristics of the bereaved mothers’ adaptive and complicated grief responses to their loss. Given all the mothers evidenced multiple forms or types of these responses over time, they could not be categorized as adaptive or complicated grievers. However, the varying proportions of each of these responses highlighted differences in overall bereavement adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susan Bailey
- Kind Spaces Consultancy, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Perth Australia
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35
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Wang SY, Wong YJ, Yeh KH, Wang L. What makes a meaningful life? Examining the effects of interpersonal harmony, dialectical coping, and nonattachment. ASIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ajsp.12212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Yi Wang
- Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology; Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington Indiana USA
| | - Y. Joel Wong
- Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology; Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington Indiana USA
| | | | - Lei Wang
- Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology; Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington Indiana USA
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36
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Pan H, Cheung CK, Hu J. Intimacy and Complicated Grief among Chinese Elders Having Lost their Spouses: Mediating Role of Meaning Making. JOURNAL OF LOSS & TRAUMA 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/15325024.2018.1435367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Haimin Pan
- Department of Applied Social Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chau-Kiu Cheung
- Department of Applied Social Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jieyi Hu
- Department of Applied Social Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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The Importance of Parental Connectedness and Relationships With Healthcare Professionals in End-of-Life Care in the PICU. Pediatr Crit Care Med 2018; 19:e157-e163. [PMID: 29329163 DOI: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000001440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Support from healthcare professionals in a PICU is highly valuable for parents of dying children. The way they care for the patients and their families affects the parents' initial mourning process. This study explores what interaction with hospital staff is meaningful to parents in existential distress when their child is dying in the PICU. DESIGN Qualitative interview study. SETTING Level 3 PICU in the Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, and the Netherlands. SUBJECTS Thirty-six parents of 20 children who had died in this unit 5 years previously. INTERVENTIONS Parents participated in audio-recorded interviews in their own homes. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative methods. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Parents' narratives of their child's end-of-life stage in the PICU bespeak experiences of estrangement, emotional distancing, and loneliness. Significant moments shared with hospital staff that remained valuable even after 5 years primarily involved personal connectedness, reflected in frequent informational updates, personal commitment of professionals, and interpersonal contact with doctors and nurses. CONCLUSIONS Parents whose children died in the PICU value personal connectedness to doctors and nurses when coping with existential distress. Medical and nursing training programs should raise awareness of parents' need for contact in all interactions but especially in times of crisis and apprehension.
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Beyers JM, Rallison L, West C. Dialogical space in grief work: Integrating the alterity of loss. DEATH STUDIES 2017; 41:427-435. [PMID: 28140769 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2017.1288666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Research on grief is moving away from stage and task-oriented models. Instead, loss is reconceptualized as an event that will change mourners' identity over time. The authors envision dynamic grief work as flowing from a dialogical engagement with loss, death, and illness; a terrain in which to begin a conversation with soul. A soul perspective challenges the prevailing call for efficiency, engages the voice of loss, and aims to bring value to the experience more than resolution. The process of rebecoming following bereavement is assisted by creating image-rich narratives that attend to and allow grief to express itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M Beyers
- a School of Social Work , University of British Columbia Okanagan , Kelowna , British Columbia , Canada
| | - Lillian Rallison
- b Faculty of Nursing , University of Calgary , Calgary , Alberta , Canada
| | - Christina West
- c College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Manitoba , Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada
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Campo RA, Wu LM, Austin J, Valdimarsdottir H, Rini C. Personal resilience resources predict post-stem cell transplant cancer survivors' psychological outcomes through reductions in depressive symptoms and meaning-making. J Psychosoc Oncol 2017; 35:666-687. [PMID: 28613996 DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2017.1342306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This longitudinal study examined whether post-transplant cancer survivors (N = 254, 9 months to 3 years after stem cell transplant treatment) with greater personal resilience resources demonstrated better psychological outcomes and whether this could be attributed to reductions in depressive symptoms and/or four meaning-making processes (searching for and finding reasons for one's illness; searching for and finding benefit from illness). Hierarchical linear regression analyses examined associations of survivors' baseline personal resilience resources (composite variable of self-esteem, mastery, and optimism), which occurred an average of 1.7 years after transplant, and 4-month changes in psychological outcomes highly relevant to recovering from this difficult and potentially traumatic treatment: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and purpose in life. Boot-strapped analyses tested mediation. Greater personal resilience resources predicted decreases in PTSD stress symptoms (b = -0.07, p = 0.005), mediated by reductions in depressive symptoms (b = -0.01, 95% CI: -0.027, -0.003) and in searching for a reason for one's illness (b = -0.01, 95% CI: -0.034, -0.0003). In addition, greater resilience resources predicted increases in purpose in life (b = 0.10, p < 0.001), mediated by reductions in depressive symptoms (b = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.033). Having greater personal resilience resources may promote better psychological adjustment after a difficult cancer treatment, largely because of improvements in depressive symptoms, although decreased use of a potentially maladaptive form of meaning-making (searching for a reason for one's illness) was also important for reducing PTSD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Campo
- a Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Lisa M Wu
- b Department of Medical Social Sciences , Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Jane Austin
- c Department of Psychology , William Paterson University , Wayne , NJ , USA
| | | | - Christine Rini
- e John Theurer Cancer Center , Cancer Prevention and Control, Hackensack University Medical Center , Hackensack , NJ , USA
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Albuquerque S, Buyukcan-Tetik A, Stroebe MS, Schut HAW, Narciso I, Pereira M, Finkenauer C. Meaning and coping orientation of bereaved parents: Individual and dyadic processes. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178861. [PMID: 28570628 PMCID: PMC5453584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine whether bereaved parents "meaning-made"-defined as results of attempts to reduce discrepancies between the meaning assigned to the death of the child and self and world-views-was influenced by their own and their partner's coping orientations. Coping orientations were conceptualized within the Dual Process Model, which entails loss coping orientation (LO; focus on the loss itself), restoration coping orientations (RO; focus on stressors that come about as an indirect consequence of the bereavement), and a flexible oscillation between both coping orientations. The sample consisted of 227 couples identified through obituary notices in local and national newspapers, who provided data at 6, 13, and 20 months after the death of their child. At all three points of measurement, both partners independently completed the Dual Coping Inventory (DCI) and a scale developed by the authors about meaning-made from the loss. Data were analyzed using a multi-level Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results show that the combination of parents' own LO and RO (operationalized through the interaction effect between LO and RO) have a positive effect in parents' meaning-made. Partners' LO have a negative effect in parents' meaning-made. These results highlight the importance of, in the context of parental bereavement, being flexible by using both coping orientations, and of acknowledging the interdependence between partners, namely, the interpersonal process by which partner's coping affect one's meaning-made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Albuquerque
- Cognitive and Behavioural Center for Research and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CICPSI, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- * E-mail:
| | - Asuman Buyukcan-Tetik
- Psychology Program, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Margaret S. Stroebe
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Psychopathology & Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henk A. W. Schut
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Isabel Narciso
- CICPSI, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marco Pereira
- Cognitive and Behavioural Center for Research and Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Wilt JA, Stauner N, Lindberg MJ, Grubbs JB, Exline JJ, Pargament KI. Struggle with ultimate meaning: Nuanced associations with search for meaning, presence of meaning, and mental health. THE JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2017.1279208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Wilt
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nick Stauner
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Joshua B. Grubbs
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Julie J. Exline
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kenneth I. Pargament
- Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
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Butcher HK, Gordon JK, Ko JW, Perkhounkova Y, Cho JY, Rinner A, Lutgendorf S. Finding Meaning in Written Emotional Expression by Family Caregivers of Persons With Dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2016; 31:631-642. [PMID: 27574336 PMCID: PMC7241250 DOI: 10.1177/1533317516660611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study tested the effect of written emotional expression on the ability to find meaning in caregiving and the effects of finding meaning on emotional state and psychological burden in 91 dementia family caregivers. In a pretest-posttest design, participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a comparison group. Experimental caregivers (n = 57) wrote about their deepest thoughts and feelings about caring for a family member with dementia, whereas those in the comparison group (n = 34) wrote about nonemotional topics. Results showed enhanced meaning-making abilities in experimental participants relative to comparison participants, particularly for those who used more positive emotion words. Improved meaning-making ability was in turn associated with psychological benefits at posttest, but experimental participants did not show significantly more benefit than comparison participants. We explore the mediating roles of the meaning-making process as well as some of the background characteristics of the individual caregivers and their caregiving environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean K Gordon
- Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Ji Woon Ko
- Department of Nursing Science, Sun Moon University, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
| | - Yelena Perkhounkova
- Office for Nursing Research and Scholarship, The University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jun Young Cho
- Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Andrew Rinner
- Information Technology Services, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Susan Lutgendorf
- Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Tolstikova K, Fleming S, Chartier B. Grief, Complicated Grief, and Trauma: The Role of the Search for Meaning, Impaired Self-Reference, and Death Anxiety. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/105413730501300402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study explored the nature of grief and trauma following the loss of a loved one. The concept of complicated grief (CG) was investigated, and the overlapping symptoms of trauma, CG, and grief were explored. Comparisons were made between those who reported CG and/or trauma and those who did not report CG or trauma in relation to search for meaning, death anxiety, and self-regulation. The failure to find meaning in the death of a loved one, impaired self-reference, and death anxiety were found to play a significant role in both trauma and CG.
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Martino ML, Freda MF. Meaning-Making Process Related to Temporality During Breast Cancer Traumatic Experience: The Clinical Use of Narrative to Promote a New Continuity of Life. EUROPES JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2016; 12:622-634. [PMID: 27872670 PMCID: PMC5114876 DOI: 10.5964/ejop.v12i4.1150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has agreed that meaning-making is a key element in the promotion of patients’ well-being during and after a traumatic event such as cancer. In this paper, we focus on an underestimated key element related to the crisis/rupture of this meaning-making process with respect to the time perspective. We consider 40 narratives of breast cancer patients at different times of treatment, undergoing chemotherapy and biological therapy. We collected data through writing technique. We performed an interpretative thematic analysis of the data and highlighted specific ways to signify time during the different treatment phases. Our central aspect “the time of illness, the illness of time” demonstrates that the time consumed by illness has the risk of becoming an illness of time, which transcends the end of the illness and absorbs a patient’s past, present, and future, thus saturating all space for thought and meaning. The study suggests that narrative can become a therapeutic and preventive tool for women with breast cancer in a crisis of temporality, and enable the promotion of new semiotic connections and a specific functional resynchronization with the continuity/discontinuity of life. This is useful during the illness and medical treatment and also after the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Martino
- SInAPSi Centre, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy; Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Romanoff BD, Thompson BE. Meaning Construction in Palliative Care: The Use of Narrative, Ritual, and the Expressive Arts. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2016; 23:309-16. [PMID: 17060295 DOI: 10.1177/1049909106290246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals and families make sense of the world and their experiences through a process of meaning construction. Narrative is an important means of constructing meaning. The diagnosis of life-threatening or life-altering illness often forces revision in the life narrative and the reconstruction of meaning. This article discusses the process of meaning construction and highlights the use of narrative, the expressive arts, and ritual to create meaning and connection. All members of the palliative care team play an important role in helping patients and families tell the stories of their illness and their lives and find meaning and purpose at the end of life. The use of rituals is discussed along with verbal and art-based methods for eliciting patient and family narratives. The relationships among patient, family, and practitioner are seen as powerfully therapeutic and potentially transformative for all involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronna D Romanoff
- Department of Psychology, The Sage Colleges, 45 Ferry Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
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Matthews LT, Marwit SJ. Meaning Reconstruction in the Context of Religious Coping: Rebuilding the Shattered Assumptive World. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2016. [DOI: 10.2190/dkmm-b7kq-6mpd-ljna] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recently research studies have begun to examine the theory that religion may help bereaved individuals to provide meaning (or an explanation) to an otherwise inconceivable event. In addition, there has been a growing understanding that bereavement forces individuals to restructure and rebuild previously held assumptions about the self and the world. The purpose of this paper is to examine the inter-relationship of religious coping, meaning reconstruction, and shattered assumptions by reviewing the literature of these three domains. Definitions surrounding “religious coping” and “meaning reconstruction” are clarified, and theoretical constructs are refined by exploring their relationships. Suggestions for future research are discussed, including methodological and conceptual considerations.
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Barlow CA, Coleman H. The Healing Alliance: How Families Use Social Support after a Suicide. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2016. [DOI: 10.2190/8n00-477q-kun1-5acn] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This article is based on a study that investigated family responses to suicide using a qualitative methodology. The intent of the study was to expand our understanding of family responses to suicide by asking the question, “What changes do families experience after a suicide?” One aspect of the data revealed how families use social support to integrate the death into its history. It was found that healing alliances created within and outside the family sustained its members as they engaged in the painful process of personal re-definition and family transformation.
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Murphy SA, Johnson C, Lohan J. The Effectiveness of Coping Resources and Strategies Used by Bereaved Parents 1 and 5 Years after the Violent Deaths of Their Children. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2016. [DOI: 10.2190/hdum-6a52-9958-7v0e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we examined the effectiveness of the coping resources and coping strategies by following 173 bereaved parents prospectively for five years after their children's deaths by accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined violence. Using hierarchical multiple regression procedures, we examined how three predictors influenced parents' mental distress and PTSD: self-esteem, active/affective coping, and repressive coping. The results showed that at one and five years postdeath, self-esteem was a significant predictor of mental distress and PTSD. After controlling for self-esteem, the use of active/affective coping strategies predicted less mental distress for fathers but not for mothers. Active/affective coping strategies were not significant predictors of lowered PTSD symptoms for either mothers or fathers. Rather, repressive coping strategies were significant predictors of higher PTSD symptoms for both mothers and fathers at both one and five years postdeath. The findings suggest the need for interventions that target both gender and outcomes as unique aspects of the violent death bereavement transition.
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Costa BM, Hall L, Stewart J. Qualitative Exploration of the Nature of Grief-Related Beliefs and Expectations. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2016; 55:27-56. [PMID: 17877080 DOI: 10.2190/cl20-02g6-607r-8561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Societal expectations of grief impact the experience of bereavement. The congruence of societal expectations with current scientific understanding of grief is unknown. Therefore two qualitative studies explored community perceptions of grief. In study one, three small focus groups ( N = 9) examined grief-related expectations associated with hypothetical scenarios of bereavement. In study two, the impact of grief-related perceptions on the lived experience of bereavement for 11 individuals was explored through semi-structured interviews. Across both studies, elements of a traditional stage model view of grief were evident, with participants viewing emotional expression of grief as important. An avoidant coping style in the bereaved was considered problematic. Findings of study two suggested that grief-related beliefs may impact the bereavement experience via appraisal of the grief response and willingness to support bereaved individuals. The studies suggested that stage model assumptions in the beliefs of the general population persist, although there was a recognition of diversity in the grief response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth M Costa
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.
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Crenshaw DA. An Interpersonal Neurobiological-Informed Treatment Model for Childhood Traumatic Grief. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2016; 54:319-35. [DOI: 10.2190/b115-5526-0u27-4296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This article expands an earlier model of the tasks of grieving (1990, [1995], [2001]) by building on science based findings derived from research in attachment theory, neuroscience, interpersonal neurobiology, and childhood traumatic grief (CTG). The proposed treatment model is a prescriptive approach that spells out specific tasks to be undertaken by children suffering traumatic grief under the direction of a therapist who is trained in trauma-informed therapy approaches and draws heavily on the empirically derived childhood traumatic grief treatment model developed by Cohen and Mannarino (2004; Cohen, Mannarino, & Deblinger, 2006). This model expands on their work by proposing specific tasks that are informed by attachment theory research and the interpersonal neurobiological research (Schore, 2003a, 2003b; Siegel, 1999). Particular emphasis is placed on developing a coherent and meaningful narrative since this has been found as a crucial factor in recovery from trauma in attachment research (Siegel, 1999; Siegel & Hartzell, 2003).
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