title: Psychological states and coping strategies after bereavement among the spouses of cancer patients: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Encouraging coping strategies that contribute to positive psychological states in bereaved individuals is assumed to be desirable; however, little is known about the components of positive psychological states and bereavement-specific coping strategies. The purpose of this study was to describe the components of psychological states and coping strategies after bereavement among the spouses of cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted among bereaved spouses of cancer patients. Meaning units of the psychological state and coping strategy in the interview records were grouped into categories and themes based on their similarities using content analysis and constant comparison methods. Negative/positive psychological states and general/bereavement-specific coping strategies were identified by discussion among the authors. The number of participants who responded to each category was determined by two raters who were unaware of the categorized procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven men and 17 women participated in the interviews. Forty-two categories of psychological states identified from 784 meaning units were grouped into six themes: 'Anxiety', 'Yearning', 'Anger', and 'Depression' were negative psychological states, while 'Acceptance' and 'Future-oriented Feelings' were positive psychological states. Thirty-three categories of coping strategies identified from 559 meaning units were grouped into six themes: 'Avoidance', 'Distancing', 'Emotional Expression', and 'Seeking Support' were general coping strategies, while 'Continuing Bonds' and 'Reconstruction of Life' were bereavement-specific coping strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several original components of positive psychological states after bereavement and bereavement-specific coping strategies were identified, whereas most of the other components were consistent with previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Division, Research Center for Innovative Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.forename: Nobuya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akizuki
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchitomi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*