RUMINATION AND BEHAVIOURAL AVOIDANCE: CONCEPTS, TYPES AND APPROACHES TO WORK IN GRIEF THERAPY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31732/2663-2209-2024-75-303-315Keywords:
loss, bereavement, grief, grieving, mourning, rumination, behavioural avoidance, prolonged grief disorder, grief therapyAbstract
The article is devoted to the study of the concept, types of rumination and behavioural avoidance that occur in people with prolonged grief disorder, as well as approaches to working with them in grief therapy. Considering the fact that repetitive thoughts and avoidance prevent the integration of loss, a better understanding of them is important. The analysis of scientific publications showed that foreign authors widely research the issue of rumination and avoidance in the context of bereavement. There is a lack of relevant research in the domestic literature. That is why this article presents a review of scientific publications by foreign authors. The article offers a view of rumination through the prism of two theories: the Response Styles Theory and Rumination as Avoidance Hypothesis. The article also discusses different types of rumination: depressive and grief rumination, intrusive and deliberate rumination. In addition, it describes how rumination relates to grief work and worry. Current research based on an understanding of the nature of rumination is taken into account when determining effective interventions. It has been found that exposure and behavioural activation can be used to reduce rumination and bereavement distress. Behavioural avoidance is defined through its manifestation in the form of anxious and depressive avoidance. Both types of avoidance can have negative consequences for bereaved people. Avoidance can be accompanied by behaviour that maintain a focus on (approach) the deceased in people with symptoms of prolonged grief disorder. This behaviour can also serve to avoid the reality of the loss. Exposure can be an effective intervention when dealing with anxious avoidance in grief therapy. Depressive avoidance tendencies can be counteracted through the use of behavioural activation. It seems appropriate to conduct future empirical research aimed at confirming the theoretical conclusions proposed in this article.Downloads
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