BEREAVEMENT CHALLENGES OF MIDDLE-AGED CHRISTIAN WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS IN THE EFFUTU MUNICIPALITY OF GHANA

Abstract

The study explored the bereavement challenges facing middle-aged Christian widows and widowers in Effutu Municipality. The exploratory two-stage sequential mixed method research approach was used. In the first stage, interviews were conducted with nine (9) participants comprising four (4) middle-aged widows and five (5) middle-aged widowers. The cross-sectional survey design involving a purposively selected sample of 302 participants completed the questionnaire for the second stage. Study participants were married before losing their spouse, middle-aged (between 30 and 55 years), and were members of the ten selected churches with majority of middle aged- widows and widowers exhibiting symptoms of depression (Mean, S.D.=2.43 ±0.91). The results showed that middle-age Christian widows and widowers faced lots of challenges during bereavement and psychological challenge was dominant with symptoms of depression. Their depressed state was due to the fact that the loss of a partner leads to a grief process that is characterized by deep sadness, depressed mood, anxiety, and loneliness (Strobe & Hansson, 1993). The study recommends that counsellors, clinicians, churches, society and family could systematically use the bereavement challenges studied to help widows and widowers cope effectively during bereavement and subsequently improve their mental health and well-being. Government must also invest more in mental health in Ghana by working together with policy makers to formulate and implement policies that seek to eliminate all forms of discrimination against widows and widowers through awareness creation.