IMPACT ON PERSONALITY LOSS OR SEPARATION FROM LOVED ONES

The purpose of this work was twofold: (a) using a set of 29 psychological variables to study the personality traits, emotions, and coping styles that emerge with more force in the stressing situation of losing a loved one and (b) determining whether there are significant differences between divorced and widowed persons. The results revealed a profile predominated by emotional instability, introversion, a disorganized lifestyle, anxiety, anger, and maladaptive strategies. This configuration was more pronounced in the group of widowed people because of their notable isolation, lack of motivation, and strong emotional reactions of depression, which, together with their high rate of negative coping behaviors (e.g., ceasing to seek solutions and social support), are risk factors for depression, mood disorders, and anxiety as well as avoidant or depressive personality traits.