Cause of Death and Guilt in Bereavement: The Role of Emotional Regulation and Kinship

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the role that emotional regulation and kinship play in the relationship between cause of death and guilt. The sample consisted of 91 people that had suffered the loss of a loved one to illness, suicide, or accident. The results show that suicide was the variable with the greatest impact on levels of guilt during bereavement, and that those people losing a child to suicide experienced more difficulties in terms of emotional regulation than those that had lost another family member, with this finding being useful for the design of intervention programs.

Keywords:

• Bereavement
• guilt
• emotional regulation
• suicide
• kinship

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dulce Camacho

Dulce Camacho MS, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in processes of grief and loss. He is the director of Alaia Association, whose mission is to give support and advice to people who have lost a loved one, especially suicide survivors. His degree is in research in emotion, cognition, and health.

Miguel Á. Pérez-Nieto

Miguel Á. Pérez-Nieto is an associate professor of psychology at Camilo José Cela University (UCJC). He was dean of the Health Faculty and is now dean of the School of Education in UCJC. His research interests include the relationships between cognition and emotion in different applied contexts.

Fernando Gordillo

Fernando Gordillo is an associate professor of psychology at Camilo José Cela University. His research interests include emotion, memory, and decision making.