Spirituality and Meaning-Making in Bereavement: The Role of Social Validation

The main objective of this study is to investigate the relation of daily spiritual experiences to multifaceted meaning making in bereavement, and the role of social validation of sense making in mediating this effect. The sample includes 348 people who have lost a loved one in the last two years. Three tools are used and validated in the Italian context: Grief and Meaning Reconstruction, Social Meaning in Life Events Scale, Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale. There were direct effects of spirituality on continuing bonds, personal growth, and valuing life. Finally, there are positive direct effects of social invalidation on personal growth, sense of emptiness, valuing life, and negative direct effects on a sense of peace. This study confirms that spirituality and sociality are a significant part of the work of mourning and the construction of the sense of loss. It also highlights the importance of recognizing the different forms they assume.