Relationship of purpose in life to grief experiences in response to the death of a signifcant other

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of purpose in life to grief experiences in response to the death of a significant other. Forty undergraduates who had sustained the death of a loved one completed an information sheet, the Purpose in Life Test, and the Grief Experience Inventory. Bereaved persons who reported low purpose in life appeared to experience more anger than individuals with high purpose. This preliminary finding is linked to literature demonstrating an association between low purpose in life and emotion-focused coping; the finding is discussed in terms of working with bereaved clients.