Humor, Laughter, and Happiness in the Daily Lives of Recently Bereaved Spouses

Dados Bibliográficos

ID13629945
AutoresDale A Lund (0000-0003-1362-3680, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, autor correspondente), Rebecca L Utz (0000-0001-7734-7676, University of Utah), Rebecca Utz (University of Utah, Salt Lake City), Michael S Caserta (University of Utah, Salt Lake City), B De Vries (0000-0003-4360-1343, San Francisco State University, California)
Ano2009
Volume58
Fascículo2
Páginas87-105
Data de publicação2009-01-17
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2190/om.58.2.a
PMID19227000
OpenAlexW1975791883
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas20
Referências citadas32

The positive psychology movement has created more interest in examining the potential value of experiencing positive emotions (e.g., humor, laughter, and happiness) during the course of bereavement. This study of 292 recently widowed (5-24 weeks) men (39%) and women (61%) age 50 and over examined both the perceived importance of and actual experience of having positive emotions in their daily lives and how they might impact bereavement adjustments. We found that most of the bereaved spouses rated humor and happiness as being very important in their daily lives and that they were also experiencing these emotions at higher levels than expected. Experiencing humor, laughter, and happiness was strongly associated with favorable bereavement adjustments (lower grief and depression) regardless of the extent to which the bereaved person valued having these positive emotions

Anger · Developmental psychology · Grief · Happiness · Laughter · Positive psychology · Psychotherapist · Sadness · Humor Studies and Applications · Media Influence and Health · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychology · Social Psychology