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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this investigation was to quantitatively examine associations between retrospectively recalled final conversations (FCs) with the outcome of coping strategies. Two-hundred thirty-six individuals participated in an online survey. Correlations revealed significant, positive associations between the FCs factors with coping strategies. Moreover, multiple regressions revealed the following: messages of identity significantly predicted positive reappraisal and cognitive monitoring; difficult relationship talk significantly predicted self and other distancing; and, messages of spirituality significantly predicted the use of faith as a coping tool. Overall, results suggest that retrospectively recalled engagement in FCs are associated with coping strategies after the death of a relational partner. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. = This study was approved by a university Institutional Review Board.
2. = Data from this study come from a larger project. For more detail regarding recruitment procedures, see Generous and Keeley (Citation2020a, Citation2020b). Also, see Generous and Keeley (Citation2020b) for correlations between the FCs factors, as well as a more detailed discussion of the factor analytics for the FCs scale.
3. = CS – Cognitive Monitoring of Emotions had five items that produced a low reliability of .62; however, the alpha did not increase by removing any of the items. Thus, the five items were summed together and used in subsequent analyses.
4. = CS – Social Support Plan originally had five items; however, the five items together produced a Cronbach’s alpha of .69. Removing one of the items (e.g., “Criticized or lectured myself”) increased the Cronbach’s alpha to acceptable level (.70; see Tavakol & Dennick, Citation2011); thus, the four items averaged together were used in subsequent analyses.