Attachment Security and Continuing Bonds: The Mediating Role of Meaning-Made in Bereavement

Abstract

Attachment security plays an important function in the grieving process. This study aimed to explore how individual differences in attachment security and meaning-made predict continuing bonds expression among bereaved adults (n = 237) using a moderated mediation model. Results of multiple regression analysis revealed an indirect effect of meaning-made on the negative relationship between attachment avoidance and continuing bonds. Results suggest that loss may be less disruptive to the meaning system of avoidant individuals and, therefore, avoidant individuals may express continuing bonds to a lesser extent. Findings implicate bereavement adjustment and grief-related interventions tailored to individual differences in attachment.

Keywords:

• Bereavement
• grief
• attachment
• continuing bonds
• meaning

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge and thank Dr. Amy Mezulis for her helpful review and feedback on drafts of our manuscript and Dr. Lynette Bikos for her invaluable consultation on our data preparation and statistical analyses.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Brandy L. Tidwell

Brandy L. Tidwell is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Seattle Pacific University. Her research interests include bereavement and grief, developmental trauma, attachment security, meaning-making, and mindfulness-based interventions.

Elizabeth D. Larson

Elizabeth D. Larson is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Seattle Pacific University. Her research interests include bereavement and grief, attachment security, trait mindfulness, and perceptions of self in relation to others in interpersonal contexts.

Jacob A. Bentley

Jacob A. Bentley is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Seattle Pacific University and affiliate faculty member in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research examines outcomes associated with trauma, illness, and disability.