Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief

Losing a loved one in older adulthood affects one's emotional well-being profoundly. The grief experienced by older adults, who may have shared significant experiences and memories with their loved ones, can be intensified by cumulative losses and is often not acknowledged by themselves or thei...

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Main Authors: Sian, Chin Hui, Ismail, Asmah, Yusop, Yusni Mohamad, Ibrahim, Rahimah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/1/113936.pdf
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author Sian, Chin Hui
Ismail, Asmah
Yusop, Yusni Mohamad
Ibrahim, Rahimah
author_facet Sian, Chin Hui
Ismail, Asmah
Yusop, Yusni Mohamad
Ibrahim, Rahimah
author_sort Sian, Chin Hui
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Losing a loved one in older adulthood affects one's emotional well-being profoundly. The grief experienced by older adults, who may have shared significant experiences and memories with their loved ones, can be intensified by cumulative losses and is often not acknowledged by themselves or their caregivers. This study uses a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design to determine the relationships between potential predictors and grief among older adults. This cross-sectional study uses purposive sampling and involves 134 older adults aged 60 years or above who had experienced significant loss within the past 60 months. A self-administered questionnaire assessed participants' demographic characteristics, loss experiences, grief, spirituality, and meaning-making. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to determine the significant predictors of meaning-making and spirituality regarding grief. The findings indicated significant negative associations between spirituality, meaning-making, and grief. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing the spiritual and meaning-making dimensions in supporting older adults in effectively managing grief-related distress. Future studies should consider longitudinal designs and further explore additional predictors to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors influencing grief and the healing process.
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spelling upm-1139362024-11-25T03:50:28Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/ Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief Sian, Chin Hui Ismail, Asmah Yusop, Yusni Mohamad Ibrahim, Rahimah Losing a loved one in older adulthood affects one's emotional well-being profoundly. The grief experienced by older adults, who may have shared significant experiences and memories with their loved ones, can be intensified by cumulative losses and is often not acknowledged by themselves or their caregivers. This study uses a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design to determine the relationships between potential predictors and grief among older adults. This cross-sectional study uses purposive sampling and involves 134 older adults aged 60 years or above who had experienced significant loss within the past 60 months. A self-administered questionnaire assessed participants' demographic characteristics, loss experiences, grief, spirituality, and meaning-making. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to determine the significant predictors of meaning-making and spirituality regarding grief. The findings indicated significant negative associations between spirituality, meaning-making, and grief. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing the spiritual and meaning-making dimensions in supporting older adults in effectively managing grief-related distress. Future studies should consider longitudinal designs and further explore additional predictors to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors influencing grief and the healing process. Universiti Putra Malaysia 2024-07-16 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_nd_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/1/113936.pdf Sian, Chin Hui and Ismail, Asmah and Yusop, Yusni Mohamad and Ibrahim, Rahimah (2024) Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 32 (s3.). pp. 41-53. ISSN 0128-7702; eISSN: 2231-8534 http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjssh/browse/special-issue?article=JSSH(S)-1602-2024 10.47836/pjssh.32.S3.03
spellingShingle Sian, Chin Hui
Ismail, Asmah
Yusop, Yusni Mohamad
Ibrahim, Rahimah
Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief
title Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief
title_full Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief
title_fullStr Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief
title_full_unstemmed Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief
title_short Bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief
title_sort bereavement and loss in older adulthood: associations between meaning-making, spirituality and grief
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/113936/1/113936.pdf