Prediction of complicated grief by positive and negative themes in narratives

A narrative coding system was employed to investigate the thematic parameters of complicated grief among participants who had recently experienced spousal loss. Two goals guided the research. First, we investigated the prevalence of and interrelationship between positive and negative themes in a narrative interview conducted 6 months into bereavement. The coding system was modeled after Erikson's (1982) scheme of crises solutions across the life span. Second, we examined the relationship of these themes to various symptom measures obtained at 6- and 14 months postloss. Results revealed no systematic relationship between corresponding positive and negative themes. Aggregated positive and negative themes showed significant correlations with 6-month measures of intrusion and avoidance and, as predicted, with various 14-month symptom levels. Regression analyses revealed that positive themes explained significant portions of 14-month symptom variance, even when 6-month symptom scores were controlled. Findings are discussed with regard to conceptualizations of grief as a stress response syndrome, where intrusive processes (e.g., in narration) are of importance.