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Pre-bereavement meaning and post-bereavement distress in mothers of children who underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation BRITISH JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Wu, L., Bonanno, G., DuHamel, K., Redd, W. H., Rini, C., Austin, J., Nereo, N., Ostroff, J., Parsons, S., Martini, R., Williams, S., Mee, L., Sexson, S., Manne, S. 2008; 13: 419-433

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the association of meaning-making with psychological adjustment to bereavement among mothers of children who had undergone haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).A prospective research design was used. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relations between pre-bereavement variables (distress, searching for meaning, and finding meaning) and distress post-bereavement.Thirty-five mothers of children who had undergone HSCT were interviewed at the time of their child's HSCT and 3 months post-bereavement.Mothers who reported searching for meaning at HSCT reported greater post-bereavement distress, and mothers who reported finding meaning at HSCT reported less post-bereavement distress. Distress at HSCT and the number of days between the time of death and the post-bereavement time point were also found to be significant predictors of post-bereavement distress.This study provides partial support for the role of meaning in adjustment to loss.

View details for DOI 10.1348/135910707X204236

View details for Web of Science ID 000258186800004

View details for PubMedID 17535504