Stress-related growth among the recently bereaved

Although stress-related growth (SRG), or a personal transformation beyond adaptation, can be an outcome for some individuals after a traumatic life experience like spouse or partner loss, it is often assumed that some time needs to pass before this happens. This study reports on early experiences of SRG relatively soon after the loss of a spouse or partner in mid and later life. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 292 recently bereaved (2-6 months) partners, aged 50+, as part of the Living After Loss study conducted in Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Substantial variability in SRG was observed where 21% scored 1 SD above and approximately 18% scored 1 SD below the sample mean of 17.2 (SD = 7.0). Regression analyses revealed that SRG was more likely for those who had expected their partners' deaths, who were more religious and who engaged in loss- and restoration-oriented coping processes, and was independent of grief levels. Findings suggest that some individuals drew upon their religious beliefs as a way to find meaning and make sense of what happened as they rebuilt their 'assumptive world'. Also, those who anticipated their partner's death could have had more opportunity to cognitively process the loss, address the challenges of widowed life and learn new skills and discover previously unrecognized strengths.