2001/05/01 by Martin A. Safer, George A. Bonanno, Nigel P. Field · 78 citations
Psychology · #Clinical psychology #Cognitive psychology #Complicated grief #Coping (psychology) #Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion #Developmental psychology #Disenfranchised grief #Grief #Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health #Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research #Psychology #Psychotherapist #Recall #Spouse #Traumatic grief
paper · doi:10.1080/09658210143000065
published in Memory 9(3), 195-203 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 2001/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
At 6 months following the death of their spouse, 37 participants reported their grief-related symptoms and thoughts, and then, approximately 4.5 years later, they attempted to recall how they felt at the time of the 6-month report. Although participants were far less distressed at recall than initially, they recalled their 6-month grief rather accurately. Participants did however overestimate prior grief-related intrusive ideation. Participant's current level of grief predicted what they recalled slightly better than the actual initial grief. Conversely, what they recalled predicted current levels of grief across various measures. Participants whose grief diminished relatively little over time tended to overestimate prior grief more. The retrospective reappraisal that one's past grief was not severe may indicate effective coping.