Grief resolution in the elderly

Efforts to predict successful grief resolution in adults have suggested that older adults may experience grief differently than younger adults. In addition, age, coping style, perceived control, and a social support system have also been identified as possible mediating factors in grief resolution. This study explored the effect of age, coping style, and perceived control on grief resolution in 48 independent living residents (aged 65-86) of a Northern California community who had experienced the loss of a spouse. All were members of a widowed person\u27s support organization. It was hypothesized that successful grief resolution would be positively related to perceived external control and to an avoidance coping style. Grief resolution was measured by the Grief Resolution Index (Remondet & Hansson, 1987) and the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1978). Coping style was measured by the Coping Responses Inventory (Moos, 1993). Perceived control was measured by Rotter Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966). The degree of grief resolution was analyzed using 2 x 2 x 2 (Age x Locus of Control x Coping Style) ANOVA on each measure of grief resolution. The hypotheses were not supported