Meaning-Based Group Counseling for Bereavement: Bridging Theory with Emerging Trends in Intervention Research

MacKinnon, Christopher J.; Smith, Nathan Grant; Henry, Mélissa; Berish, Mel; Milman, Evgenia; Körner, Annett; Copeland, Laura; Chochinov, Harvey Max; Cohen, S. Robin

doi:10.1080/07481187.2012.738768

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Issues of meaning and meaninglessness are the central domain from a spiritual, religious, or existentialistic point of view (Ferrell et al, 2003; Yalom, 1980). Clinically, meaning-related issues have drawn much attention during recent years (Breitbart et al, 2004; la Cour & Hvidt, 2010; Mackinnon et al, 2014), as meaning seems to be the strongest predictor of quality of life (QoL) in palliative care settings (Brandstatter et al, 2014; Cohen et al, 1996). Meaning is also strongly connected to such concepts as sense of coherence (SoC) (Antonovsky, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Struggling to find meaning in life among spouses of people with ALS

2014

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Meaning in life strengthened spouses' well-being and ability to find pleasure in a difficult situation. It also strengthened their will to live after the partner's death. Limitations and isolations were strong predictors of what could impair their well-being and the possibility of finding meaning after the partner's death. Spouses need individual support throughout the disease process and after the partner's death, to give them the strength to find meaning in life and prioritize what is important for them. Paying attention to what might prevent them from finding meaning could make it easier to help them in their situation. Providing joint support to the patient and spouse might also help them to see each other's situation, come together, and help each other.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Struggling to find meaning in life among spouses of people with ALS

2014

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“…Indeed, scholars adopting narrative constructivist (Neimeyer & Sands, 2011), cognitive–behavioral (Malkinson, 2007), psychodynamic (Horowitz, Bonanno, & Holen, 1993), stress-and-coping (Park, 2010), and systemic perspectives (Hooghe & Neimeyer, 2013) have all described the struggle to reconstruct meaning as a key component of the grief experience. Accordingly, meaning reconstruction has been proposed as a frame for grief therapy with individuals (Neimeyer & Sands, 2011), families (Hooghe & Neimeyer, 2013; Nadeau, 1998; Walsh & McGoldrick, 2004), and groups (MacKinnon et al, 2014, 2015; Neimeyer, Milman, & Steffen, in press). Similarly, there is a growing awareness of the meaning reconstruction paradigm among mental health professionals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prolonged grief and the disruption of meaning: Establishing a mediation model.

Milman¹,

Neimeyer²,

Fitzpatrick³

et al. 2019

Journal of Counseling Psychology

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This study aimed to test the hypothesis that meaning making is a mediating process in the relationship between risk factors for prolonged grief disorder (PGD) and subsequent emergence of PGD symptomatology. A survey design was employed with prospective measurement of PGD. The following variables were assessed 2-12 months postloss among adults across North America and Europe (N ϭ 357): (a) risk factors for PGD (insecure attachment, social support, neuroticism, violent loss, and spousal loss) and (b) meaning made. Meaning made was measured using the Grief and Meaning Reconstruction Inventory (GMRI) as well as using the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences-Short Form (ISLES-SF). At a 7-10-months follow-up (n ϭ 171) symptoms of PGD were assessed. The mean age at the second assessment point was 44.3 years (SD ϭ 16.1) and the majority of the sample identified as female (71.9%). Process analysis was employed to test a series of simple mediation models. When the GMRI was used as a measure of meaning, the indirect effect of each risk factor on PGD symptoms, as mediated by meaning made, was significant (95% CI). When the ISLES-SF was used to measure meaning, the indirect effect of each risk factor with the exception of violent loss was significant (95% CI). The study demonstrates that meaning making serves to mediate the adverse impact of multiple PGD risk factors on the development of PGD symptomatology. Specifically, the study suggests that PGD risk factors exacerbate symptoms of PGD by impeding the meaning-making process. Public Significance StatementThis study provides support for the role of meaning making in the development of prolonged grief disorder symptomatology, suggesting that risk factors for prolonged grief worsen symptoms of prolonged grief by hindering meaning making such that the bereft struggle to "make sense" of the death. These findings facilitate understanding of how severe grief develops and suggest a clinical focus on facilitating meaning making among at-risk grievers.

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“…Closer attention to the impact of homicide survivorship on youth, including mental health sequelae, may guide interventions to recognize and support youth following the loss of a loved one to murder. Treatment modalities designed to address grief, complex mental health presentations, and/or suicidal behavior (e.g., dialectical behavior therapy, complicated grief therapy, and meaning-based group counseling) may help young people cope with homicide survivorship (Linehan, 1993; MacKinnon et al, 2014; Shear, Frank, Houck, & Reynolds, 2005). Future studies should include a more nuanced assessment of mental health, including constructs such as hopelessness, impulsivity, and emotion regulation, to further explore these associations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homicide survivorship and suicidality among adolescents.

et al. 2020

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Homicide survivorship is linked to depression and trauma symptoms among adolescents, but little is known about associations with suicidality and how these associations intersect with other childhood adversities. This study examined the prevalence of homicide survivorship and associations with suicidality and childhood aversities among a population-based sample of youth using the Healthy Allegheny Teen Survey, a county-wide representative survey of 1,609 youth aged 14 to 19 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Logistic regression models examined associations between homicide survivorship and suicidality, adjusting for (a) demographics and (b) demographics and childhood adversities. In all, 13% of youth were homicide survivors. Black youth experienced a disproportionate burden of traumatic loss. Homicide survivorship was associated with suicide attempts and childhood adversities. Closer attention to the impact of homicide survivorship on youth, mental health sequelae, and co-occurrent childhood adversities may guide interventions to recognize and support youth following traumatic loss.

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Meaning-Based Group Counseling for Bereavement: Bridging Theory with Emerging Trends in Intervention Research

Cited by 14 publications

References 34 publications

Struggling to find meaning in life among spouses of people with ALS

Struggling to find meaning in life among spouses of people with ALS

Prolonged grief and the disruption of meaning: Establishing a mediation model.

Homicide survivorship and suicidality among adolescents.

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