Grief is the reaction to the loss of anything valuable, and therefore both the widowed and the divorced experience the grief process. Research shows that learning about the cyclic stages and symptoms of grief and knowing that others have successfully recovered can be helpful to the griever. The purpose of this thesis has been to develop and produce a compiled Readers Theatre script containing factual material about the stages and symptoms of the grief process as it relates to the widowed and divorced, and also personal testimonies of people who have successfully worked through their grief. In addition to the script, the thesis includes a discussion on pathological grief and on the similarities and differences in widowed and divorced grief.

Locus of Control (LOC) is operationalized as a dispositional trait remaining stable throughout life, but may also be conceptualized as a domain specific state. Widowed persons' support groups, consisting of recently conjugally bereaved older adults (N=22) and one high functioning, long-term widowed peer group leader, were utilized to test LOC malleability. A significant increase in one State measure subscale, Desire for Control, was noted. Trait LOC remained stable. The change in State and Trait LOC change did not significantly relate to psychological symptom reduction. However, Trait LOC Internality related to fewer symptoms whereas State LOC Internality related to more symptoms.

by Cheng Bing-yee, Banny. / Questionnaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.S.W.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-151). / ABSTRACT --- p.11 / Chapter ONE --- INTRODUCTION --- p.14 / Chapter TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Bereavement --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2 --- Stress --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Social support --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4 --- Quality of life --- p.43 / Chapter THREE --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK --- p.50 / Chapter 3.1 --- Conceptual definition of variables --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2 --- Relationship of the variables in this study --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- Research questions and hypotheses of this study --- p.58 / Chapter FOUR --- METHODOLOGY --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1 --- Research design and sampling method --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Data collection operation --- p.61 / Chapter 4.3 --- Data analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 4.4 --- Measuring instrument --- p.62 / Chapter FIVE --- RESULTS --- p.67 / Chapter 5.1 --- Demographic characteristics --- p.67 / Chapter 5.2 --- Psychometric properties of the scales --- p.70 / Chapter 5.3 --- "Descriptive findings on stress of bereavement, social support, and quality of life" --- p.73 / Chapter 5.4 --- "Impact of demographic characteristics of the respondents on perceived stress, social support, and quality of life" --- p.103 / Chapter 5.5 --- "Relationships between stressor, perceived stress, social support and quality of life" --- p.106 / Chapter SIX --- DISCUSSION --- p.117 / Chapter 6.1 --- Discussion on methodology of this study --- p.117 / Chapter 6.2 --- Discussion on the results of the findings --- p.118 / Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations of the research --- p.130 / Chapter SEVEN --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION --- p.132 / Chapter 7.1 --- Recommendations for general practice --- p.132 / Chapter 7.2 --- Recommendations for bereavement services and program --- p.135 / Chapter 7.3 --- Further Research --- p.141