Premium
Gruesomeness, emotional attachment, and personal threat: Dimensions of the anticipated stress of body recovery
Author(s) -
McCarroll James E.,
Ursano Robert J.,
Fullerton Carol S.,
Oates Gary L.,
Ventis W. Larry,
Friedman Herbert,
Shean Glenn L.,
Wright Kathleen M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.2490080213
Subject(s) - psychology , psychological intervention , posttraumatic stress , stress (linguistics) , clinical psychology , psychological stress , emotional stress , social psychology , psychiatry , medicine , linguistics , philosophy
Previous research has shown that exposure to grotesque death has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and higher levels of stress have been associated with mortuary workers who anticipated handling remains than those who did not. Additional research is presented here to further clarify the nature of the anticipated stress of handling the dead. Anticipated stress of handling human remains was rated for 13 different situations by 479 persons (384 men and 95 women) without such experience, but whose job was likely to require it. Factor analysis of their ratings revealed three psychological dimensions: the gruesomeness of the remains, an emotional link between the viewer and the remains, and personal threats to the remains handler. Suggestions for preventive measures, training, and interventions for those who may handle remains are made.