Bereaved African American Adults: The Role of Social Support, Religious Coping, and Continuing Bonds

ABSTRACT

The present study identified relationships between social support, religious coping, continuing bonds, prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms, and the quality of life among bereaved African American adults (N = 154). Perceived social support and less use of negative religious coping strategies predicted a higher quality of life and fewer PGD symptoms. Also, greater perceived social support, less use of negative religious coping strategies, and less use of continuing bonds significantly predicted fewer PGD symptoms. Implications suggest that the conceptualization of grief and loss for African Americans might include social support, religious coping, and continuing bonds.

KEYWORDS:

• African Americans
• coping
• grief
• quality of life
• social support

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dessirae L. Boulware

Dessirae L. Boulware is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Scott & White Healthcare. She received her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the University of La Verne. Her research interests include grief and loss, trauma, and multicultural psychology.

Ngoc H. Bui

Ngoc H. Bui is a tenured professor in the psychology department at the University of La Verne. She received her master’s and doctorate degrees in social psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her research interests include teaching and learning psychology, attitudes, procrastination, and media psychology.