In our doctoral dissertation entitled "Effectiveness of resolving the consequences of losses in the original family and complicated grief in relational family therapy" we focused on losses in the original family, and how might that affect adult functioning witch can follow such losses and complicated grief as clinical disorder that can occur after the death of a loved one.
In quantitative research, which included 210 individuals, we found that individuals with losses in the original families were significantly more likely to express chronic self-destructive behavior in adulthood, their self-esteem was significantly lower, and less functional ways were expressed in coping with stressful events. For some losses, participants with multiple losses expressed significantly more fear in intimate relationships, which manifested as less trust in relationships. But in our study, there was no statistically significant difference between participants who experienced losses and participants who did not experience them in the area of complicated grief. From this result we can conclude that complicated grief can be significantly provoked by other factors, which we have not examined, including the attachment style and the history of other losses and traumatic events.
In the qualitative part of the research, we focused on the characteristics of the participants before the therapeutic process and the changes after the therapeutic process for several research areas. As part of the therapeutic grief group, we focused on the research area of complicated grief, as part of individual therapies in individuals with experience of loss in the original family, we focused on research areas of self-behavior, self-esteem, intimate relationships, coping with stressful events and symptoms of panic disorder.
In both groups, based on the analysis of the content of diary entries of therapists, we came to the conclusion that changes have occurred in the process of relational family therapy:
- Within the therapeutic grief group in the area of complicated grief, the symptoms were significantly reduced, and participants also reported a reduction in separation anxiety and separation distress, as well as a more functional daily life.
- As part of individual therapies in the field of intimate relationships (participants reported less fear of trusting their partner), behavior towards themselves and their surroundings (participants were mainly aware of some self-destructive behaviors and tried to improve them), panic disorder symptoms (participants expressed fewer panic symptoms), in assessing self-esteem and relationships in the primary family (participants reported better self-esteem and recognition of family patterns) and in coping with stressful events (participants reported more functional responses to stressful situations).
The relational family therapy model has proven to be effective, as both grieving group participants and individual therapy participants reported improved functioning in daily life. By raising awareness and processing or new regulation of severe affects related to loss in the original family, the current functioning of the individual can be improved, which can significantly improve the quality of his relationships and life.
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