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Pre‐bereavement meaning and post‐bereavement distress in mothers of children who underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Author(s) -
Wu Lisa,
Bonanno George,
DuHamel Katherine,
Redd William H.,
Rini Christine,
Austin Jane,
Nereo Nancy,
Ostroff Jamie,
Parsons Susan,
Martini Richard,
Williams Sharon,
Mee Laura,
Sexson Sandra,
Manne Sharon
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1348/135910707x204236
Subject(s) - meaning (existential) , distress , psychology , clinical psychology , transplantation , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , medicine
Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the association of meaning‐making with psychological adjustment to bereavement among mothers of children who had undergone haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Design A prospective research design was used. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relations between pre‐bereavement variables (distress, searching for meaning, and finding meaning) and distress post‐bereavement. Methods Thirty‐five mothers of children who had undergone HSCT were interviewed at the time of their child's HSCT and 3 months post‐bereavement. Results Mothers who reported searching for meaning at HSCT reported greater post‐bereavement distress, and mothers who reported finding meaning at HSCT reported less post‐bereavement distress. Distress at HSCT and the number of days between the time of death and the post‐bereavement time point were also found to be significant predictors of post‐bereavement distress. Conclusions This study provides partial support for the role of meaning in adjustment to loss.