Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder Sample

Background: Previous research has identified a link between the loss of a significant person, grief complications, and substance abuse. People with substance use disorder (SUD) are more vulnerable to complicated grieving symptoms following loss. From sociocognitive theories, the model of coping with...

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Main Authors: Beatriz Caparrós, Laura Masferrer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.624065/full
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author Beatriz Caparrós
Laura Masferrer
Laura Masferrer
author_facet Beatriz Caparrós
Laura Masferrer
Laura Masferrer
author_sort Beatriz Caparrós
collection DOAJ
description Background: Previous research has identified a link between the loss of a significant person, grief complications, and substance abuse. People with substance use disorder (SUD) are more vulnerable to complicated grieving symptoms following loss. From sociocognitive theories, the model of coping with stress assumes that substance use is one of the responses used to cope with traumatic life events. The main objective of this study is to identify the coping strategies of people with SUD and to analyze their relationship to complicated grief (CG).Methods: A sample of 196 bereaved drug-dependent patients was assessed, after providing written consent, in sociodemographic variables, drug and bereavement related characteristics, CG symptomatology (Inventory of Complicated Grief) and coping strategies (Coping Strategies Inventory).Results: There are differences in relation to the coping strategies used among patients with CG, using more those focused on emotional expression, social withdrawal, wishful thinking, and self-criticism.Conclusion: We can conclude that, in general, CG in patients with SUD is more associated with the use of less adaptive coping strategies. This data can contribute to a better understanding of the different variables involved in the grieving process among people with SUD. It is important to point out the clinical implications of addressing what the coping strategies associated with improved grief outcomes among people with addiction problems are.
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spelling doaj.art-b202f02040ac42f9994f248c0a5f24d82022-12-21T17:13:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-01-011110.3389/fpsyg.2020.624065624065Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder SampleBeatriz Caparrós0Laura Masferrer1Laura Masferrer2Department of Psychology, University of Girona (UdG), Girona, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Girona (UdG), Girona, SpainCAS Girona, Mental Health and Addiction Research Group, Institut d’Assistència Sanitària (IAS), Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Girona (IDIBGI), Girona, SpainBackground: Previous research has identified a link between the loss of a significant person, grief complications, and substance abuse. People with substance use disorder (SUD) are more vulnerable to complicated grieving symptoms following loss. From sociocognitive theories, the model of coping with stress assumes that substance use is one of the responses used to cope with traumatic life events. The main objective of this study is to identify the coping strategies of people with SUD and to analyze their relationship to complicated grief (CG).Methods: A sample of 196 bereaved drug-dependent patients was assessed, after providing written consent, in sociodemographic variables, drug and bereavement related characteristics, CG symptomatology (Inventory of Complicated Grief) and coping strategies (Coping Strategies Inventory).Results: There are differences in relation to the coping strategies used among patients with CG, using more those focused on emotional expression, social withdrawal, wishful thinking, and self-criticism.Conclusion: We can conclude that, in general, CG in patients with SUD is more associated with the use of less adaptive coping strategies. This data can contribute to a better understanding of the different variables involved in the grieving process among people with SUD. It is important to point out the clinical implications of addressing what the coping strategies associated with improved grief outcomes among people with addiction problems are.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.624065/fullcoping strategiescomplicated griefsubstance use disorderalcoholcocaineheroin
spellingShingle Beatriz Caparrós
Laura Masferrer
Laura Masferrer
Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder Sample
Frontiers in Psychology
coping strategies
complicated grief
substance use disorder
alcohol
cocaine
heroin
title Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder Sample
title_full Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder Sample
title_fullStr Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder Sample
title_full_unstemmed Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder Sample
title_short Coping Strategies and Complicated Grief in a Substance Use Disorder Sample
title_sort coping strategies and complicated grief in a substance use disorder sample
topic coping strategies
complicated grief
substance use disorder
alcohol
cocaine
heroin
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.624065/full
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