Lehman, D. R., Wortman, C. B., & Williams, A. F. (1987). Long-term effects of losing a spouse or child in a motor vehicle crash. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(1), 218-231.

Interviews were conducted with 39 individuals who had lost a spouse in a motor vehicle crash 4 to 7 years ago and 39 controls and with 41 parents who had lost a child in a crash and 41 controls. Significant differences between bereaved spouses and controls were revealed on several indicators of general functioning, including depression and other psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, psychological well-being, reactivity to good events, and future worries and concerns. Comparisons between bereaved and control parents also revealed significant differences on some measures of general functioning (especially depression). Responses suggest that the deceased continued to occupy the thoughts and conversations of bereaved spouses and parents. Many respondents continued to ruminate about the accident or what might have been done to prevent it, and they appeared to be unable to accept, resolve, or find any meaning in the loss. Data provide little support for traditional notions of recovery from the sudden, unexpected loss of a spouse or child.

 

 

Lehman, D. R., Wortman, C. B., & Williams, A. F. (1987). Long-term effects of losing a spouse or child in a motor vehicle crash. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(1), 218-231.