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Originalia

Zum Verlauf „normalen“ Trauerns

Verlusterleben in Abhängigkeit von seiner Dauer

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1026/0943-8149/a000145

Zusammenfassung. Gegenstand der Untersuchung ist die Frage, ob bei Erwachsenen Unterschiede in der Ausprägung verschiedener Aspekte des Trauerns in Abhängigkeit von der Dauer des Trauerprozesses bestehen. Bei einer Stichprobe von 521 trauernden Personen, die das Würzburger Trauerinventar bearbeiteten, zeigt sich innerhalb der ersten zwei Jahre nach Verlust für akute emotionale und kognitive Beeinträchtigungen (BEEIN) sowie für das Empfinden der Nähe zur verstorbenen Person (NÄHE) ein umgekehrt u-förmiger Verlauf mit nachfolgend weiterer Abnahme. Frauen weisen in beiden Skalen höhere Werte auf als Männer. Deskriptiv zeigt sich für Persönlichkeitsentwicklung/Wachstum (WACHS) sowie Empathie für andere (EMPATH) nach einem anfänglichen Absinken eine kontinuierliche Intensitätszunahme über einen Zeitraum von zwei Jahren hinaus. Die Ergebnisse werden u. a. im Kontext des Konzepts der fortdauernden Bindungen diskutiert, und es werden Schlussfolgerungen für die klinische Praxis aufgezeigt.


On The Course Of ‘Normal’ Grief: Loss Experience Depending on its Duration

Abstract. The study explored whether adults show differences in various dimensions of grief depending on the time since loss. A sample of 521 bereaved Germans who had filled in the Würzburg Grief Inventory showed an inverted U-shaped development within the first 2 years after the loss, with a subsequent decline, both for acute emotional and cognitive impairments (IMPAIR) and the sense of nearness to the deceased (NEAR). Women have higher scores than men in both scales. Both personality development/growth (GROWTH) and empathy for others (EMPATH) after an initial decline tended to show a steady increase that exceeded the span of 2 years. The results are discussed with respect to the concept of continuous bonds and the consequences for clinical practice are outlined.

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