Avoidance processes mediate the relationship between rumination and symptoms of complicated grief and depression following loss.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0034051
• Publication Date: 2013-12-23T16:38:15Z
• Authors: Maarten C. Eisma; Margaret S. Stroebe; Henk A. W. Schut; Wolfgang Stroebe; Paul A. Boelen; Jan van den Bout
• Keywords: Depression; Complicated Grief; Behavioral Activation

Ruminative coping has been associated with negative outcomes in bereavement. Rather than assuming it to be a problematic confrontation process, researchers have recently suggested rumination maladaptive through its links avoidance processes. The main aim of this study was examine, for the first time, whether relationship between ruminative and symptoms complicated grief depression is mediated by processes (suppression, memory/experiential avoidance, behavioral loss-reality avoidance). A sample 282 adults (88% female, 12% male), bereaved on average 18 months previously, filled out three questionnaires at 6-month intervals. We assessed symptom levels, rumination, trait baseline; after 6 months; levels 12 months. When controlling initial experiential link grief, depression. Post hoc analyses showed suppression may also mediate but not Loss-reality no significant mediator these relationships. This provides evidence that during bereavement increases perpetuates psychopathology, because linked specific Bereaved individuals (chronic) benefit from therapy focused countering tendencies.