An Investigation of the Stages of Bereavement

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Abstract
A sample population of 692 individuals (age thirteen through twenty-six) was utilized to investigate the stages of bereavement. The Thurston Equal-Appearing Interval Attitude scale designed to measure attitudes toward death was used. The mean death attitude score was studied with respect to recency of death experience (i.e., How long has it been since an emotionally close friend or relative of yours has died?). Plotting the means for each month up to twelve months yielded a series of five stages the mourner passes through. The stages, which indicate final acceptance for mourners as occurring around the eighth month after death, were resolved as normal. While the time element is significant, the fluctuations in death attitudes of mourners is more so for purposes of counseling and understanding.

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