Doctoral dissertation titled Experiencing Death of a Spouse or a Partner and Risk Factors for Mourning Disorders in Women covers the topic of vulnerability after the death of a spouse/partner, self-criticism, self-reassurance, belief in the afterlife, sanctification of marriage. Despite society's tendency to push away the topic of death, grief, and coping with loss from our space, it is an experience that the majority of individuals in romantic/marital relationships will encounter. The death of a loved one is something we cannot escape, thus it is meaningful to confront it.
In the quantitative part of the research, 168 female participants were included, who have experienced the death of a spouse/partner in their lives and are between the ages of 30 and 60. It has been one and a half to five years since the death of the spouse/partner. The cause of death of the spouse/partner includes both illness-related causes and sudden death. With the help of questionnaires: Adult Attitude Grief Scale (AAG), Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), Belief in Afterlife Scale (BA Scale) and Revised Sanctification of Marriage Scale we confirmed three hypotheses set in the study. Females who engage in higher levels of self-criticism and possess lower self-reassurance show greater vulnerability following the death of their spouse/partner. Females with a stronger belief in an afterlife exhibit lower levels of vulnerability after the death of their spouse/partner. Females who demonstrate a higher level of sanctification of marriage with the deceased individual exhibit lower levels of vulnerability following the death of their spouse/partner. We partially confirmed the fourth hypothesis. It was found that women who lost their partner due to sudden death experience greater overwhelm, higher vulnerability, and more difficulties with resiliance and self-reassuring compared to those who lost their partner after a prolonged illness. Sudden death causes a greater shock and complicates the grieving process, potentially leading to complicated grief and increased emotional vulnerability. No differences were found between the groups regarding belief in the afterlife, the presence of God, or the sacred qualities of the marriage, indicating that these factors are not related to the type of loss. The results highlight the need for specific support strategies for those grieving a sudden loss. We partially confirmed the fifth hypothesis. The multiple regression analysis revealed that the time since the death of a spouse/partner significantly impacts the vulnerability of grieving women – longer periods lead to lower levels of vulnerability. This suggests that a longer time distance from the loss facilitates easier coping with grief. Although age, education, and economic status did not show a statistically significant effect on vulnerability, there is a trend indicating that higher education and better economic status may contribute to a lower sense of vulnerability.
Regardless of the fact that the loss of a loved one is an individual experience for each person, there are certain factors that can enhance or worsen this experience, making it even more challenging to cope with. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of the factors that facilitate grieving after the death of a spouse/partner. By understanding the factors that reduce vulnerability after the death of a spouse/partner, individuals can better cope with the challenging experience of losing their life companion. Increasing these factors not only facilitates coping with the loss but also reduces the likelihood of complications in the grieving process. Such an experience is inherently difficult, and while most women initially believe that their pain is insurmountable and recovery seems unlikely, the process of healing and vulnerability following the loss of a loved one can vary based on various factors. A higher level of belief in the afterlife lowers the level of vulnerability after the death of a loved one. Lower levels of self-criticism (in terms of inadequacy and hated self) also contribute to reducing vulnerability. The ability to self-reassure and the sanctification of marriage are additional factors that decrease vulnerability after the death of a loved one. The latter includes perceiving the presence of God in the marriage with the deceased individual and recognizing the sacred qualities of the marriage with the deceased individual. The findings indicate that vulnerability following the loss of a spouse/partner also decreases with a longer period of time since the death. The absence of these factors can increase the risk of developing complicated grief, as greater exposure to risk factors leads to heightened emotional distress and hinders the process of adapting to the loss.
In the second predominantly qualitative part of the research, we aimed to complement the findings from the quantitative phase, which focused on the topic of belief in an afterlife. The qualitative part included 18 female participants who had experienced the death of a spouse/partner and were between 30 and 60 years old. The time elapsed since the death of the spouse/partner ranged from one and a half to five years. The cause of death was attributed to an illness. For the purposes of the qualitative research segment of the doctoral dissertation, we utilized a semi-structured interview that had been previously prepared. The interview covered the following thematic areas: general questions about the afterlife, the development of belief in the afterlife, the afterlife in relation to the deceased partner, belief in the afterlife as a protective factor, and discussions with others about the afterlife. In the qualitative part of the research, we primarily focused on exploring which aspects of belief in the afterlife are connected to the loss of a spouse/partner and the grieving process that follows (or which aspects of the dynamics of belief in the afterlife are emphasized after the loss of a loved one). Four key domains were identified, namely: The Perception of the Afterlife, The Path to Belief or Disbelief in the Afterlife, The Relationship with the Deceased After Death, and Support for Those Who Are Grieving. These areas deserve further attention in future research, both theoretically and in clinical work with grieving individuals, as the topic of the afterlife is often excluded from conversations or actively avoided, despite the fact that many adults believe in an afterlife. Questions related to belief in the afterlife are encountered by a significant majority of those grieving and are important to them in the process of mourning and coping with the loss of a loved one.
The doctoral dissertation demonstrates the importance of understanding vulnerability following the death of a loved one, as well as self-reassuring, various aspects of self-criticism, belief in the afterlife, and dimensions of sanctification of marriage in the process of grieving and coping with the loss of a partner/spouse. All of these factors significantly impact individuals who are grieving during the mourning process.
The present study represents a significant contribution to shedding light on and understanding the broader perspective of grieving in women who have lost a partner/spouse. The addressed topics, particularly their interconnectedness, have not received much research attention in the international context, let alone in the Slovenian context. The research findings make an important contribution to both the grieving individuals and the clinical practice of professionals working with the bereaved, as they offer an opportunity for reflection on which topics are worth strengthening and addressing with those who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
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