Stress, Self-Esteem and Coping During Bereavement Among the Elderly

The purpose of the study was to assess the stability of self-esteem as a coping resource during bereavement and to develop a dynamic model of the efficacy of coping ability in relation to the perceived stressfulness of the spouse's death. Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of bereavement. Interviews and mailed questionnaires were completed by 192 persons at three time periods which covered the first year of bereavement. Results indicate that initially effective copers remain effective throughout the first year, those with initially high levels of self-esteem maintain their positive assessments, and those who initially experience high stress levels also continue to report high levels one year later. Early bereavement stress was reduced by positive self-evaluations. Persistent stress is associated negatively with coping at one year. The mediating influence of stress at six months also contributes most significantly to the negative effects on self-esteem. Perceived coping ability significantly reduces stress only at six months. Implications for ongoing interventions are discussed.