Spirituality and Meaning-Making in Bereavement: The Role of Social Validation

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the relation of daily spiritual experiences to multifaceted meaning making in bereavement, and the role of social validation of sense making in mediating this effect. The sample includes 348 people who have lost a loved one in the last two years. Three tools are used and validated in the Italian context: Grief and Meaning Reconstruction, Social Meaning in Life Events Scale, Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale. There were direct effects of spirituality on continuing bonds, personal growth, and valuing life. Finally, there are positive direct effects of social invalidation on personal growth, sense of emptiness, valuing life, and negative direct effects on a sense of peace. This study confirms that spirituality and sociality are a significant part of the work of mourning and the construction of the sense of loss. It also highlights the importance of recognizing the different forms they assume.

Keywords:

• Meaning-making
• spirituality
• social support
• continuing bonds
• grief

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ines Testoni

Ines Testoni Professor at the University of Padua, she is Director of the Master “Endlife” in Death studies & the end of life - For the intervention of support and the accompanying. Considered as one of the most important Italian experts in death studies, she is the author of more than 200 articles and has been director of about one hundred studies.

Marco Antonellini

Marco Antonellini graduated in social psychology and trainee at Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA) at the University of Padua, his research interests include death studies and grieving process.

Lucia Ronconi

Lucia Ronconi Statistical consultant in the IT and Statistical Services of Multifunctional Pole of Psychology, at the University of Padua. She is an expert in statistical analysis in psychological and social research.

Gianmarco Biancalani

Gianmarco Biancalani Psychologist and Research Assistant in the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology (FISPPA) at the University of Padua. His research interests include death studies, end of life, grieving process and death education.

Robert A. Neimeyer

Robert A. Neimeyer Professor at the University of Memphis, he also serves as Director of the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition. He is one of the most important experts of Grief Therapy and served as President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), and Chair of the International Work Group for Death, Dying, & Bereavement.