Grief Adjustment as Influenced by Funeral Participation and Occurrence of Adverse Funeral Events

Abstract

Seventy-four mourners were studied on how their experiences with funeral services for their loved ones influenced later scores on the Grief Experience Inventory (GEI). Those who found the funeral “comforting” and/or participated in planning the funeral reported less grief misery later. A high incidence (43%) of “adverse events” was found to occur during the funerals, contributing, for some mourners, to a perception of the funeral as “not comforting.” Adverse events are categorized and illustrated by the authors to aid grief therapists and funeral directors in assisting mourners to be vigilant toward such adversities and to optimize the healing potential of funeral rituals.