An Investigation of the Relationship of Personality, Coping, and Grief Intensity Among Bereaved Mothers

A mediational model of grief intensity (Meuser & Marwit, 2000) was examined in a population at risk for complicated grief. Coping strategies (emotion-oriented, task-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping) were hypothesized to mediate the influence of personality factors (neuroticism and extraversion) on grief. Bereaved mothers (N = 138) completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and Revised Grief Experiences Inventory. Coping strategies partially mediated the influence of personality factors on grief. However, compared to prior findings among bereaved spouses, coping played a weaker mediating role, and neuroticism had a stronger direct influence on grief among bereaved mothers. Results suggest that personality and coping factors may function differently across different loss circumstances.