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Assessing adults' difficulty in coping with funerals.
Bert Hayslip1, Suzanne K Booher, Michael T Scoles
1Department of Psychology, Univerisity of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203-1280, USA. hayslipb@unt.edu
Omega
|October 20, 2007
Summary
Coping with funeral arrangements can be challenging, with six key factors identified. Older adults and those actively participating in rituals reported fewer difficulties, aiding bereavement adjustment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Thanatology
Background:
- Adults face numerous decisions regarding funeral arrangements after a loved one's death.
- Funeral experiences can significantly impact the bereavement process and adjustment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a scale measuring difficulties associated with funeral arrangements.
- To identify factors influencing the experience of funeral-related difficulties.
Main Methods:
- A 50-item scale was developed and administered to 348 adults who attended a funeral within the past year.
- Principal components analysis was used to identify underlying factors of funeral difficulty.
Main Results:
- A reliable scale (Cronbach's Alpha = .96) identified six factors of funeral difficulty: protocol, personal/interpersonal issues, industry trust, cemetery concerns, grief, and post-funeral responsibilities.
- Older adults and those actively participating in funeral rituals reported fewer difficulties.
- Higher personal and bereavement-related distress correlated with increased difficulties.
Conclusions:
- Funeral difficulties can be categorized into six distinct factors.
- Active participation in funeral rituals and older age may mitigate challenges.
- Findings can inform interventions and aftercare services to support bereavement adjustment.
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