Continuing bonds and grief: A prospective analysis

Abstract

Using data of 56 bereaved individuals, this study examined associations of various manifestations of continuing bonds, assessed at 7–12 months post-loss, with concurrent and prospective (9 months later) symptoms of grief and depression. Among other things it was found that, independent of initial symptom levels, manifestations of continuing bonds differed in their associations with subsequent grief and depression. That is, continuing bonds through recovering memories was a strong predictor of grief but not depression, whereas continuing bonds through the use of the deceased's possessions was a weak predictor of both grief and depression. In part, these findings contradict earlier prospective findings.