Long-Term Bereavement From Suicide, Homicide, Accidents, and Natural Deaths

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1990

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that short-term, bereavement from suicide is different from bereavement from other causes of death, at least in part because of diminished social support. To see if the same was true of long-term bereavement, college students who had been bereaved longer than 2 years (M = 5. 75 years) from suicide or homicide were matched on age, gender, and recency of the bereavement to students who were bereaved from accidental death, natural anticipated death, or natural unanticipated death. All students completed three social support questionnaires, and other questionnaires measuring impact, recovery, and current mood. Contrary to expectations, there were no differences between groups, except that those bereaved from accidents were more likely than others to feel as though the death were not real. Apparently, over time the bereavement experience for those whose loved one died by suicide becomes similar to bereavement from other causes of death.

Publication Title

Death Studies

Volume

14

Issue

5

First Page

423

Last Page

433

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