Personality and Conjugal Bereavement in Older Widow(er)s

This study examined the degree to which an individual's propensity to experience emotional distress and restraint are predictive of grief intensity in a sample of older widow(er)s ( N = 51). Characteristic distress was found to be a significant predictor of present grief intensity, whereas repressive defensive-ness was found to predict past grief, as recalled from the time of loss. Results are discussed in light of known risk factors for complicated bereavement and intervention concerns.