Showing papers by "George A. Bonanno published in 2009"

Prolonged Grief Disorder: Psychometric Validation of Criteria Proposed for DSM-V and ICD-11

Abstract: Background: Bereavement is a universal experience, and its association with excess morbidity and mortality is well established. Nevertheless, grief becomes a serious health concern for a relative few. For such individuals, intense grief persists, is distressing and disabling, and may meet criteria as a distinct mental disorder. At present, grief is not recognized as a mental disorder in the DSM-IV or ICD-10. The goal of this study was to determine the psychometric validity of criteria for prolonged grief disorder (PGD) to enhance the detection and potential treatment of bereaved individuals at heightened risk of persistent distress and dysfunction. Methods and Findings: A total of 291 bereaved respondents were interviewed three times, grouped as 0–6, 6–12, and 12– 24 mo post-loss. Item response theory (IRT) analyses derived the most informative, unbiased PGD symptoms. Combinatoric analyses identified the most sensitive and specific PGD algorithm that was then tested to evaluate its psychometric validity. Criteria require reactions to a significant loss that involve the experience of yearning (e.g., physical or emotional suffering as a result of the desired, but unfulfilled, reunion with the deceased) and at least five of the following nine symptoms experienced at least daily or to a disabling degree: feeling emotionally numb, stunned, or that life is meaningless; experiencing mistrust; bitterness over the loss; difficulty accepting the loss; identity confusion; avoidance of the reality of the loss; or difficulty moving on with life. Symptoms must be present at sufficiently high levels at least six mo from the death and be associated with functional impairment. Conclusions: The criteria set for PGD appear able to identify bereaved persons at heightened risk for enduring distress and dysfunction. The results support the psychometric validity of the criteria for PGD that we propose for inclusion in DSM-V and ICD-11. Please see later in the article for the Editors’ Summary.

Predictors and Parameters of Resilience to Loss: Toward an Individual Differences Model

Abstract: Although there is marked variation in how people cope with interpersonal loss, there is growing recognition that most people manage this extremely stressful experience with minimal to no impact on their daily functioning (G. A. Bonanno, 2004). What gives rise to this resilient capacity? In this paper, we provide an operational definition of resilience as a specific trajectory of psychological outcome and describe how the resilient trajectory differs from other trajectories of response to loss. We review recent data on individual differences in resilience to loss, including self-enhancing biases, repressive coping, a priori beliefs, identity continuity and complexity, dismissive attachment, positive emotions, and comfort from positive memories. We integrate these individual differences in a hypothesized model of resilience, focusing on their role in appraisal processes and the use of social resources. We conclude by considering potential cultural constraints on resilience and future research directions.

Does attachment avoidance help people cope with loss? The moderating effects of relationship quality.

Abstract: Previous research has been inconsistent about the role of attachment avoidance in coping with loss. The present study sought to resolve this issue by examining the potential moderating role of relationship quality with the deceased. The authors used longitudinal data on bereaved spouses (N=50) collected at 4 and 18 months postloss. Three-way effects emerged among attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, and marital quality in the prediction of complicated grief (CG) symptoms at 18 months, controlling for 4-month symptoms. Findings indicated that, in the context of high but not low marital quality, persons with a dismissingly avoidant attachment style (high avoidance, low anxiety) experienced marked reductions in CG symptoms from 4 to 18 months. Findings clarify the role of attachment avoidance in coping with loss and underscore that relationship quality is a critical factor in the attachment-grief relationship.

Rasch Modeling of the Self-Deception Scale of the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding.

Abstract: Self-deception has become a construct of great interest in individual differences research because it has been associated with levels of resilience and mental health. The Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR) is a self-report measure used for quantifying self-deception. In this study we used Rasch modeling to examine the properties of the self-deception scale of the BIDR in terms of dimensionality, use of response category, sample appropriateness, and reliability. A total of 315 university students (ages 18-21) were administered the self-deception scale of the BIDR. Seven-category and 2-category scoring methods were compared, as approved by the developers of the scale. Overall, the 7-category model was the best fit for the data and the sample. We concluded that the scale has the best reliability using a 7-category model with Item 13 deleted. Because of low person measure separation and reliability, the appropriateness of use of this instrument in undergraduate populations is questioned; the use of the measure in populations with larger ranges of self-deception is not recommended.

Mental Health and Disasters: Resilience after Disaster

Abstract: This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the book Mental Health and Disasters. The book is the definitive reference on mental health and disasters. It focuses on the assessment and treatment of the full spectrum of psychopathologies associated with many different types of individual disasters. The book talks about the mental health consequences of disasters. It provides a synthesis of the current knowledge of the mental health effects of disaster. The book focuses on key aspects of vulnerability and resilience in the face of disasters. It overviews the scientific literature on the key known determinants of the mental health consequences of disasters. The book discusses the science of interventions after disasters, along with the barriers and challenges faced in providing mental health care services after these events. It presents detailed explorations of a number of sentinel natural, technological, and human-made disasters.

Would You Buy a Used Car from a Self-enhancer? Social Benefits and Illusions in Trait Self-enhancement

Abstract: Trait self-enhancement has been consistently associated with genuine adaptive benefits, as well as some social liabilities. In the current investigation, we examined whether self-enhancement might generate social benefits. Among a sample of high-exposure survivors of the September 11th terrorist attack (Study 1), trait self-enhancement was associated with leadership behaviors during the 9/11 attack, with a larger social network, and with greater daily contact with close friends/relatives. The association between self-enhancement and social network size was replicated in a college sample (Study 2), even when social desirability was statistically controlled. A previous finding (Bonanno, Rennicke, & Dekel, 2005) linking self-enhancement with reduced social constraints against personal disclosure was also replicated in Study 2. However, when compared with actual social constraints reported by participants' friends/relatives, self-enhancers' perceptions appeared to be illusory. Together, these findings suggest...