Meaning-Making in Memories: A Comparison of Memories of Death-Related and Low Point Life Experiences

Because of their extensive experience with death and dying, hospice volunteers may be more successful at engaging in meaning-making regarding their death-related experiences than their low point life experiences (e.g., job loss). Consequently, their memories of death-related experiences will manifest more meaning-making strategies (e.g., benefit-finding) than their low point memories. Fifty-two hospice volunteers wrote memory narratives of death-related and low point experiences and provided ratings of their memories. Results show that death memory narratives exhibit more meaning-making strategies, are rated as more emotionally positive, and are more frequently rehearsed. The long-term significance of the use of meaning-making strategies is discussed.