Attachment and the Experience of Grief Following the Loss of a Spouse

Abstract

Numerous studies have been conducted in the areas of attachment theory and grief. There is, however, very little research that explores the possible connection between attachment and grief. The present study examines the relationship between an adult's attachment style (i.e., secure or insecure) and an individual's experience of grief after the loss of a spouse. Seventy-seven widows and widowers completed a questionnaire package consisting of the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (Griffin & Bartholomew, 1994), the Grief Experience Inventory (Sanders, Mauger, & Strong, 1985a), and the Continuing Bonds Scale (Grund, 1998). Differences between participants who were secure in attachment to their spouse and those insecure in attachment (which includes preoccupied, dismissing, and fearful) were examined on the Grief Experience Inventory and the Continuing Bonds Scale. Findings revealed differences between securely and insecurely attached widowed people on subscales of the Grief Experience Inventory. In particular, securely attached people were less angry, less socially isolated, less guilty, had less death anxiety, less somatic symptoms, less despair, less depersonalization, and ruminated less than insecurely attached people. Analysis of the Continuing Bonds subscales revealed significant differences between secure and insecure attachments such that secure people scored higher on Interchanges with the Deceased, as well as Reminiscing about the Deceased, than insecure people. Taken as a whole, the results seem to indicate that attachment style has an affect on one's grief reaction.