POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE LIFE CHANGES FOLLOWING BEREAVEMENT AND THEIR RELATIONS TO ADJUSTMENT

We examined positive and negative life changes reported by bereaved spouses and parents 4-7 years after the sudden loss of a family member (N = 94). Although the bereaved described significantly more positive than negative life changes in response to a series of open-ended interview questions, the number of positive life changes reported was unrelated to reports of psychological symptoms and well-being. Analyses examining the impact of positive life changes within particular domains (e.g., social relations, life orientation) revealed the same null pattern. Those bereaved reporting various positive life changes were no better off than their counterparts who did not mention such changes and, like their bereaved counterparts, were in fact worse off than their non-bereaved matched controls. In contrast, reports of negative life changes were consistently related to psychological symptoms and well-being. Our results raise questions about the significance of reports of positive life changes following victimization. Statements of personal growth may not be reliable indicators of adjustment. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.