Widowhood effect: Difference between revisions

==Coping mechanisms==

There is no universally accepted "proper" method or way to grieve or adjust to life after loss; it varies among individuals, influenced by their cultural and social practices, personality, and the circumstances surrounding the death. Even though grief processing varies, there are ways to reduce the effects of widowhood. Since a spouse is often one's primary source of social interactions, maintaining and establishing social bonds is a crucial aspect in determining the outcome of a widowed individual's bereavement.<ref name="DeSpelder & Strickland">{{cite book |last1=DeSpelder |first1=Lynne Ann |last2=Strickland |first2=Albert Lee |title=The last dance: encountering death and dying |date=2015 |isbn=9780078035463 |language=en|oclc=842883173 }}</ref> Social participation may be utilized "as an active coping strategy" as discovered in a study by Rebecca Utz and colleagues.<ref name="DeSpelder & Strickland"/> Additionally, the loss of a spouse means the loss of a partner; the loss of a supportive presence with whom responsibility was shared amongst one another. Studies have shown that for couples who followed traditional gender roles, adjustment to life after their loss was often more difficult than for couples who did not.<ref name="DeSpelder & Strickland"/> Undertaking the responsibilities previously considered the 'job' of one's deceased partner is often hard to handle on top of processing the loss; therefore, the utilization of organizations built to support and help widowed individuals may also prove to be helpful in reducing grief. The Widowed Persons Service (WPS) and their parent organization, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), are two organizations which provide aid specifically to widowed individuals.<ref name="DeSpelder & Strickland"/> Effective and safe methods of grief processing are important for all individuals dealing with loss; however, the utilization of organizations may prove to be beneficial for those who need a little more help.

 

==Notes==