The Impact of Multiple Losses on the Grieving Process: An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT

Twenty-eight responders (23 women, 5 men) to an invitation in Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) publications were interviewed by telephone to assess the impact of multiple losses on the grieving process. All had experienced death(s). Most had also experienced self- or family injury, health problems, divorce or separation, or other problems. Grief lasted longest for losses close in time, was completed soonest when losses were more spaced apart, and required an intermediate amount of time for simultaneous losses. People generally grieved one loss at a time, even for simultaneous losses. Personal injuries altered grieving patterns. Multiple losses affected individuals' health, marriages, faith, finances, jobs, emotions, and personalities.

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Notes on contributors

Dorothy L. Mercer

Dorothy L. Mercer is a professor of psychology at Eastern Kentucky University where she teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in the field of clinical psychology including professional ethics and the psychology of loss. She is a licensed psychologist and a certified grief educator and grief counselor. Her research specializes in victim issues.

John M. Evans

John M. Evans currently serves as the national victim services training manager for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. His responsibilities include oversight of all MADD Beginning and Advanced Victim Assistance Training Institutes held throughout the United States, death notification seminars for allied professionals, workshop development for MADD's national conferences, and direct support to victims/survivors of vehicular crimes and the advocates who serve them.