Guilt in Bereavement: A Review and Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Thirty-four quantitative and 9 qualitative studies are reviewed to indicate current understanding of the nature and impact of guilt in bereavement. This overview suggests that guilt is especially prevalent among some vulnerable subgroups, and it is associated with maladaptive health outcomes. Being male, longer bereavement time, and good end-of life experience seem to be associated with less guilt feelings. However, definition ambiguity, measurement difficulties, and cultural insensitivity are evident in studies. Therefore, a multidimensional conceptualization of guilt and a structural model to guide future investigation of this phenomenon in the bereavement context is proposed.

Acknowledgments

Jie Li is now affiliated with the Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China.

Notes

¹The ways used to measure regret were scrutinized to decide whether they fall within the definition of “guilt”.

²The table summarizing quantitative studies is available in Li. J. (2012). Bereavement guilt in Chinese adult children. Doctoral dissertation in preparation.