Date of Award

1994

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Social.

Supervisor

Kral, M.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

In order to investigate the influence of different types of death on grief, 350 previously bereaved college students completed a questionnaire package consisting of the Grief Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ), the Impact of Event Scale (IES), the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (TRIG), and a series of questions assessing additional aspects of grief. Participants were separated into four groups based on the mode of death experienced as either survivors of suicide (n = 34), accident (n = 57), anticipated natural (n = 157), or unanticipated natural (n = 102) deaths. Multiple regression analyses indicated that suicide survivors, when compared with survivors of the other modes of death, experienced more frequent feelings of being rejected by the deceased, responsibility for the death, "unique" reactions, and total grief. Further, trends were evident wherein suicide survivors reported increased levels of shame and perceived stigmatization. Regarding aggregate factors, deaths which were unanticipated, as compared to those that were anticipated, resulted in a heightened searching for explanation regarding unanswered questions surrounding the death, while, contrary to expectations, a trend was evident with survivors of natural deaths reporting more guilt than survivors of unnatural deaths. Implications of the finding that suicide survivors oftentimes experience components of grief which are uncommon in other forms of death are considered, and recommendations for future research are discussed.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1994 .M378. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 34-02, page: 0898. Adviser: Michael Kral. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1994.

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