Restoration-focused coping reduces complicated grief among older adults: A randomized controlled study

Abstract

Background and objectivesThe death of a loved one leaves a sizable minority of bereaved individuals at increased risk for complicated grief (CG), which can lead to adverse health outcomes. There has been increased interest in developing intervention options for CG based on the dual-process model of coping with bereavement, which addresses both loss- and restoration-focused coping methods. Many loss-focused approaches have been employed in clinical settings, but the development of restoration-focused intervention method has received insufficient attention. MethodsThis study examines the effectiveness of a restoration-focused intervention method called self-care in bereavement (SCB) and the mediating effects of changes in self-efficacy and personal growth on the relationship between the intervention method and CG. A total of 168 Korean older adults experiencing bereavement from the loss of a loved one were randomly assigned to the SCB group or the comparison group, which received only psychoeducation on CG. ResultsThe SCB group demonstrated a significant reduction in CG in comparison to the comparison group. Changes in self-efficacy and a sense of personal growth had significant mediating effects on the relationship between the intervention method and CG. ConclusionThese results suggest that SCB is a promising intervention method for CG and that the intervention effect may be mediated by positive changes in self-efficacy and a sense of personal growth.