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 Stud. 2024;48(6):537-549. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2023.2246022. Epub 2023 Aug 11.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Death*
  • Caregivers* / psychology
  • Female
  • Grief*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms* / psychology
  • Object Attachment*
  • Terminally Ill* / psychology