Bereavement Coping Self-Efficacy in Cancer Widows

Abstract

This study applied social cognitive theory to help explain the differential outcomes observed in conjugal bereavement. Specifically, a measure of bereavement coping self-efficacy was created and relationships tested with psychological, spiritual, and physical health outcomes. One hundred and one women whose husbands had died from cancer within the last year served as participants. Mean age of this relatively well-educated, predominately Caucasian sample was 54 years old. Median time since death was between 6 months and a year. Results supported the hypotheses that bereavement coping self-efficacy was a significant predictor of emotional distress, psychological well-being, spiritual well-being, and physical health perceptions after controlling for several other important factors. Theoretical and clinical ramifications of these findings are discussed.

Prolonged Grief Disorder Among Refugees in Psychological Treatment—Association With Self-Efficacy and Emotion Regulation

“…The association found between self-efficacy and PGD severity in our study is consistent with previous research suggesting the role of self-efficacy in adaptation after the loss of a loved one. In a study on bereavement coping among widows, self-efficacy was found to be an important predictor of emotional distress, as well as of psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being in the year following the loss of a husband (36). In another study examining successful long-term adaptation to conjugal bereavement, bereaved individuals who expressed self-efficacy had lower levels of grief over time than those who did not.…”

“…These beliefs may alter personal goals, motivation, everyday functioning, resilience to adversity, and vulnerability to distress and depression (33). The role of self-efficacy in adaptation after both a violent (34) and nonviolent loss of a loved one (35,36) has been established in nonrefugee samples. Whereas self-efficacy has been considered a relevant variable among refugees due to its positive association with mental health and well-being (37,38), its relationship to PGD remains unknown.…”

Evaluación de la percepción de autoeficacia en pacientes de oncología infantil

“…Su repercusión en el ámbito de la salud ha sido ampliamente documentada a través de numerosos estudios en los que se revelan los beneficios que una alta autoeficacia tiene para el funcionamiento humano de las personas y su bienestar (3) . Concretamente en el caso del cáncer en adultos, diferentes investigaciones analizadas muestran, entre otros aspectos, la influencia positiva de la autoeficacia en: el afrontamiento de secuelas corporales (4,5) ; la adherencia a los tratamientos médicos (6) ; o en el ajuste psicológico y bienestar físico de los pacientes (7,8) . Así también, como que una adecuada información médica sobre la enfermedad o el tratamiento o la posibilidad de expresar dudas o temores sobre ambos aspectos, incrementa la autoeficacia de los pacientes en su afrontamiento de la enfermedad (9) .…”

Well-Being and Functioning at Work Following Thefts and Robberies: A Comparative Study

“…As stated by COR theory (Hobfoll, 1989 ), personal resources are beneficial because they help individuals to deal with stressors. In the context of trauma exposure, trauma-related coping self-efficacy (CSE) is an important personal resource, which has been found to protect individuals from psychological distress (Benka et al, 2014 ) and is positively associated with psychological well-being (Benight et al, 2001 ; Lambert et al, 2012 ). CSE refers to the perceived ability to effectively manage both personal functioning and external recovery demands handled in the aftermath of a traumatic event (Benight and Bandura, 2004 ).…”