Coping with Bereavement

Although bereavement is a normal part of life, it is associated with detrimental mental and physical health consequences and is thus an important topic in the context of stress, coping, and health. Research on the relationship between bereavement and physical and mental health is reviewed. Ways that persons cope are likely to interact with diverse risk factors (circumstances of death, intra-and interpersonal variables, etc.) to codetermine excesses in ill health or poor adaptation. Thus, close attention is given to empirical and theoretical contributions to understanding the relative effectiveness of different coping strategies. In addition to summarizing the state of knowledge in the field in the above areas, new directions for the field are considered.