Investigation of the relationship between continuing bonds and adjustment after the death of a first-degree family member by using the Multidimensional Continuing Bonds Scale


Keser E., İŞIKLI S.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, vol.78, no.2, pp.218-232, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 78 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/jclp.23210
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, AgeLine, Applied Science & Technology Source, ATLA Religion Database, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Violence & Abuse Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.218-232
  • Keywords: bereavement, complicated grief, continuing bonds, meaning reconstruction, prolonged grief, MEANING RECONSTRUCTION, COMPLICATED GRIEF, RISK-FACTORS, BEREAVEMENT, ATTACHMENT, CULTURE, VALIDATION, INVENTORY, MUSLIMS, PARENTS
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives The study aims to develop a continuing bonds scale, investigate the relationship between continuing bonds and adjustment after loss, and test the moderating role of meaning reconstruction in this relationship. Methods Data were collected from two different samples of 306 (Study 1) and 271 (Study 2) bereaved adults. Results The four factors structure of the Multidimensional Continuing Bonds Scale (MCBS) was explored and confirmed. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that continuing bonds showed a significant relationship with prolonged grief symptoms after controlling the risk factors such as gender, age of the deceased, time since loss, and cause of death. Meaning reconstruction moderated the relationship between continuing bonds and prolonged grief symptoms. Conclusion The results revealed that the MCBS can be used as a valid and reliable scale to assess the continuing bonds construct. The relationship between continuing bonds and prolonged grief symptoms varies according to the levels of meaning reconstruction.