Analyzing Loss and Grief: Mediators, Theories, and Coping Mechanisms

This essay provides an overview of loss and grief, defining these concepts and exploring various psychological theories associated with them, including attachment theory, psychodynamic theory, personal construct theory, phases and stages models, the dual process model, and the Kübler-Ross stages of grief. It identifies and discusses key mediators of grief, such as the nature of the attachment, mode of death, historical antecedents, personality variables, social variables, and concurrent stresses. The essay emphasizes the importance of understanding the grief cycle for care workers to provide adequate support to individuals experiencing loss, highlighting the traumatic nature of grief, especially when the loss involves someone close. References to various studies and publications are included to support the analysis.

LOSS AND MEDIATORS
OF GRIEF

What is Loss
Defining Grief
Theories of grief
Mediators of grief
INTRODUCTION

It is a process of losing someone in life.
It can simply be defined as the experience of
being separated from someone or something
having great value or importance
What is LOSS ??

Grief is a normal
response to loss.
It is a process of
dealing with the pain
of separation of
someone very
important and close
(Forster and Murray,
2013).
Defining Grief

Psychological models and theories have been
put forward to help understand the loss and
grief, some of these are:
• Attachment theory
• Psychodynamic theory
• Personal construct theory
• Phases and stages model
• Dual process model
• Kubler Ross stages of grief model
Theories Of Grief

Kubler Ross Stages Of Grief

Dual Process Model

1. Who the Person Was
2. The Nature of the Attachment
3. Mode of Death
4. Historical Antecedents
5. Personality Variables
6. Social Variables
7. Concurrent Stresses
(Worden, 1996)
Mediators Of Grief

Previous losses
How the earlier losses have been mourned
The state of being of the person experiencing
loss
Personality Variables

Gender and age
Coping and cognitive style
Personal Variables

The loss associated pain and grief is a
traumatic experience especially if the loss is
of someone close. A proper understanding of
the cycle of grief and events occurring
through this phase is of crucial importance
for the care workers in providing support to
people in grief.
Conclusion

 Forster, E. and Murray, J., 2013. Loss and grief. In Child youth and family nursing. Strengthening
communities (pp. 260-278). Elsevier, Chatswood NSW.
 Parkes, C.M. and Prigerson, H.G., 2013. Bereavement: Studies of grief in adult life. Routledge.
 Prigerson, H.G., Horowitz, M.J., Jacobs, S.C., Parkes, C.M., Aslan, M., Goodkin, K., Raphael, B.,
Marwit, S.J., Wortman, C., Neimeyer, R.A. and Bonanno, G., 2009. Prolonged grief disorder:
Psychometric validation of criteria proposed for DSM-V and ICD-11. PLoS medicine, 6(8),
p.e1000121.
 Parkes, C.M. and Prigerson, H.G., 2013. Bereavement: Studies of grief in adult life. Routledge.
 Hall, C., 2014. Bereavement theory: recent developments in our understanding of grief and
bereavement. Bereavement Care, 33(1), pp.7-12.
 Buglass, E., 2010. Grief and bereavement theories. Nursing Standard (through 2013), 24(41), p.44.
 Clark, A.E. and Georgellis, Y., 2013. Back to baseline in Britain: adaptation in the British household
panel survey. Economica, 80(319), pp.496-512.
 Nader, K. and Salloum, A., 2011. Complicated grief reactions in children and adolescents. Journal of
Child & Adolescent Trauma, 4(3), pp.233-257.
 Smythe, A., 2012. Coping with grief and loss. Early Years Educator, 14(8), pp.28-30.
 Cunsolo, A. and Landman, K. eds., 2017. Mourning Nature: Hope at the Heart of Ecological Loss
and Grief. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP.
References :

• Humphrey, K.M., 2009. Counseling strategies for
loss and grief. Alexandria, VA: American
Counseling Association.
• Odean, K., 2015. LOSS AND GRIEF. Teacher
Librarian, 42(3), p.43.
Further Reading