Loss Of A Spouse Essay

Death of a Spouse The death of any person in a family system can be a devastating loss. The loss of a spouse could alter an entire family system in a day (Bolwby-West, L, 1983). When the loss of a spouse occurs, the surviving spouse may suffer a painful experience. The loss is not just a loss, it is a loss of a partner, a lover, a best friend, or even a parent of a child. Most often, the loss occurs three times more for women than men, in other words, 80% of widowed individuals are women. (Elwert and Christakis, 2008; Rossi, Bisconti, & Bergeman, 2007). Because of this statistic, the surviving spouse is left with multiple stressors that they never planned for, especially if the death was sudden. The death sends a shock to the system and …show more content…
First, the spouse can make sense of the event and truly explore the details of why the loved one passed. They can find support in others and begin to rebuild the confidence they lost (Elwert and Christakis, 2008). Secondly, the surviving spouse can find value or benefit in the experience as a growing opportunity and a way to express themselves differently than they had in the past. Research conducted by Carnelley, Wortman, Bolger and, Burke found that two to four years after the death of a spouse, 61% of suddenly bereaved individuals and 29% of forewarned bereaved individuals were still questioning why the death had happened (2006). Widowhood, however, can lead to a psychological growth. The bereaved person may learn new skills, find new strengths they may not have known before, and have more independence. They may begin to feel more in control and competent with themselves, and build a stronger resilience and self-assurance that they may not have had if the spouse were still alive. Lastly, research shows that growth can occur one to fifteen years after the loss and the benefits of the loss begin to increase from six months to eighteen months post-loss (Elwert and Christakis,