PFP Page 24 

Loss and grief: focus on death and bereavement

These have come so that your faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--

may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:7

Having looked at broader issues of loss, we start to focus now on the issue of grief arising out of death. It is important to try to understand the factors that help determine grief. In a long-respected study in 1972, J. William Worden arrived at the conclusion that there are six main factors that determine the degree of grief a person experiences.

1 Who was the person 

  Spouse, parent, baby, son/dcaughter, sibling,  relative, friend, work colleague, what was their age?

2 What was the nature of the attachment?

  Its strength - close bond; acquaintance

  Its security - extent of emotional and or financial security

  Ambivalence in the relationship - 'hot or cold', or distance

3 Mode of death

  Sudden death or long illness

4 Historical antecedents

  What have been the previous grief experiences of the person currently grieving?

  Is the person grieving emotionally?

5 Personality variables

  Is the person grieving emotionally stable or volatile?

6  Social variables

  What gender?

  What is their spirituality?

  What is the grieving person’s socio-economic status?

  What culture?

  What support does (s)he have – church/work/club etc

Something to consider

Try to see how the aspects above may apply to one person in your experience. (If you feel comfortable, you may like to reflect on your own experience in a grieving situation.)