Getting Unstuck: The Roles of Hope, Finding Meaning, and Rumination in the Adjustment to Bereavement among College Students

ABSTRACT

The relationships between hope, bereavement-related rumination, and finding meaning (making sense and benefit finding) were examined in 158 college students who experienced the death of a loved one within the latter half of their lives. Greater rumination was related significantly to lessened psychological well-being, and it mediated the relationship between being able to make sense of the death and superior well-being. Finding benefits in bereavement was associated with positive adjustment for those who recently experienced the death of a loved one, whereas it was related to negative adjustment for those who experienced the death longer ago. Higher hope predicted greater well-being, but it was not related to rumination or finding meaning.

Acknowledgments

Portions of this study were presented in a poster at the national conference of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Reno, NV, 2002. This material is based upon work supported in part by the Office of Academic Affiliations, VA Special MIRECC Fellowship Program in Advanced Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Veteran Affairs.

Notes

¹Interested readers please contact Scott T. Michael for a copy of questions.

Note. df (1, 32) for Step 1, df (2, 31) for Step 2. βs are for full models with both predictors. Fs are F Change values. CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale; STAI = Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory; PANAS = Positive and Negative Affect Scale; NA = Negative Affect Scale; PA = Positive Affect Scale.

^* p < .05.

^** p < .006.

Note. df (1, 122) for Step 1, df (2, 121) for Step 2; df (1, 121) for Step 1, df (2, 120) for Step 2. βs are for full models with both predictors Fs are F Change values CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale; STAI = Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory; PANAS = Positive and Negative Affect Scale; NA = Negative Affect Scale; PA = Positive Affect Scale.

^* p < .05

^** p < .006.

Note. df (1, 156) for single predictor; df (2, 155) for two predictors; β ^RIQ = Rumination beta weight; β ^MS = Making Sense beta weight; R ²cha° = Making Sense entered in step 2. CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale; STAI = Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory; NA = Negative Affect Scale.

*p < .006.

Note. df (1, 156) for Step 1, df (2, 155) for Step 2, °Rumination as a single predictor. CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale; STAI = Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory; PANAS = Positive and Negative Affect Scale; NA = Negative Affect Scale; PA = Positive Affect Scale.

^* p < .008.