Continuing bonds in adaptation to bereavement: Toward theoretical integration.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Bereavement Studies
• Attachment Theory

Background:

• Scientific literature lacks clarity on adaptive functions of continuing vs. relinquishing bonds with deceased persons.
• Unclear which bond types or processes relate to adaptive or maladaptive bereavement outcomes.
• Empirical research in this area is rarely theoretically driven.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a theoretical model for predicting the adaptiveness of continuing-relinquishing bonds.
• To integrate attachment theory with bereavement-specific models.
• To systematically examine the relationship between continuing bonds and bereavement adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes attachment theory as a foundational framework.
• Integrates the Dual Process Model (Stroebe & Schut, 1999) to link coping with outcomes.
• Incorporates Mental Representations Theory (Boerner & Heckhausen, 2003) regarding cognitions about the deceased.

Main Results:

• A theoretical model is proposed to predict (mal)adaptive bereavement outcomes.
• The model links ways of coping and cognitions about the deceased to bond adaptiveness.
• Provides a framework for understanding individual differences in bereavement.

Conclusions:

• The integrative model offers a systematic approach to studying continuing bonds in bereavement.
• Enhances understanding of the complex relationship between bonds to the deceased and adaptation.
• Highlights the need for theoretically-driven research in bereavement studies.