Several psychological dimensions influence the psychological adjustment of terminally ill cancer patients’ caregivers, during the end-of-life phase. The present study explored the associations between attachment styles, mentalization, preparedness for death, and the severity of pre-loss grief symptoms in 102 caregivers of terminal cancer patients. The results of the network analysis showed that insecure attachment dimensions were positively associated with several central pre-loss grief symptoms. Mentalization and preparedness for death showed negative associations with several pre-loss grief symptoms. Interestingly, bitterness showed a negative association with need for approval and a positive association with mentalization. The results provided insight into the grieving process for palliative care providers to implement effective caregiver support interventions.
Lombardo, L., Veneziani, G., Giraldi, E., Morelli, E., Durante, S., Aceto, P., Lai, C., How attachment style, mentalization and preparedness for death are associated with pre-loss grief symptoms' severity: A network analysis study in caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients, <<DEATH STUDIES>>, 2024; 48 (6): 537-549. [doi:10.1080/07481187.2023.2246022] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/303901]
How attachment style, mentalization and preparedness for death are associated with pre-loss grief symptoms' severity: A network analysis study in caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients
Aceto, Paola;Lai, Carlo
2024
Abstract
Several psychological dimensions influence the psychological adjustment of terminally ill cancer patients’ caregivers, during the end-of-life phase. The present study explored the associations between attachment styles, mentalization, preparedness for death, and the severity of pre-loss grief symptoms in 102 caregivers of terminal cancer patients. The results of the network analysis showed that insecure attachment dimensions were positively associated with several central pre-loss grief symptoms. Mentalization and preparedness for death showed negative associations with several pre-loss grief symptoms. Interestingly, bitterness showed a negative association with need for approval and a positive association with mentalization. The results provided insight into the grieving process for palliative care providers to implement effective caregiver support interventions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.