Locked-in your heart-shaped box: Familial-role and attachment orientation as predictors of grief in prolonged disorders of consciousness vs. death. Issue 8 (2nd August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yehene, Einat; Zaksh, Yael; Davidian, Meital; Bar-Nadav, Ofri; Elyashiv, Maya
• Is Part Of: Death studies. Volume 44:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: 510
• Page End: 520
• Publication Date: 2020-08-02
• Subjects: Death -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Terminal care -- Periodicals; Death -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; 306.9
• DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2019.1586795
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0748-1187

Abstract

Abstract: Death or prolonged disorders of consciousness (DOC) of a loved one are both considered relational-losses that severely disrupt attachment-bonds. Grief in both conditions was compared by exploring the impact of familial-role and attachment-orientation. In DOC, caregivers' grief was found significantly intensified relative to Death. Familial-role impacted grief in both conditions alike, with partners' heightened grief in DOC reflecting the complexity of their stagnant bonds. In Death, avoidance-attachment mitigated grief, while in DOC anxiety-attachment accentuated grief, we suggest that while physical-separation in death facilitates the modification of continuing attachment-schema, in DOC, modification may be required while the patient is still alive.