Citation

Jensen KE, O'Connor M, Spindler H, Moskowitz A. Death Stud. 2019; 43(4): 260-269.

Affiliation

Touro College Berlin, Campus Am Rupenhorn 5 , 14055 Berlin.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481187.2018.1458759

PMID

29757086

Abstract

Bereavement hallucinations (BHs) were assessed in 175 conjugally bereaved participants four years post loss, to explore whether BHs were: a) associated with psychological distress and b) predicted by sociodemographic variables, personality and/or coping style. Participants with BHs scored significantly higher than those without BHs on prolonged grief, post-traumatic stress, depression symptoms, and emotional loneliness. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed avoidant coping, openness to experience, and length of marriage to significantly predict BHs, while detached coping was negatively associated with BHs. This study suggests that BHs may be an indicator of psychological distress in bereavement.

Language: en

Keywords

Continuing bonds; Depression; Grief; PTSD; Spousal loss