Cited by 678Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthDeath, Funerary Practices, and MourningReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

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Loss, Grief, and the Search for Significance: Toward a Model of Meaning Reconstruction in Bereavement

Gillies, James, Neimeyer, Robert A.·2006·Journal of Constructivist Psychology

DOI 10.1080/10720530500311182

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Abstract

Constructivist theories recently have begun to inform understandings of grief, emphasizing the role of meaning making in adaptation to bereavement. In this article we review empirical studies using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, investigating how three activities of meaning reconstruction are involved in the grieving process: sense making, benefit finding, and identity change. In particular, we consider how critical processes have been operationally defined and how study methods and designs have constrained what can be concluded from this burgeoning field of research. We conclude by positing an integrated model of meaning reconstruction pathways as a heuristic guide to further research and briefly note the implications of this model for clinical practice.

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“The constructivist psychology of mourning and grief management (Gillies & Neimeyer, 2006; Larson, 2013) emphasizes that the bereaved need a safe, supportive, and empathic relationship to overcome the shock of loss.”
BackgroundInfluential
The situatedness of meaning construction in Wisława Szymborska’s “Cat in an Empty Apartment”
Stadnik, K. (2020) · Journal of Literary Semantics · doi:10.1515/jls-2020-2015 · Cited by 1
Construindo histórias e sentidos sobre uma perda familiar na vida adulta
Luna, I. J. (2020) · Psicologia USP · doi:10.1590/0103-6564e200058 · Cited by 1
The Internet, social media and grieving
Alves, R. V. (2021) · Médecine Palliative · doi:10.1016/j.medpal.2020.04.006 · Cited by 1
Posttraumatic Growth in the Distribution of Negative Interpersonal Relationship: A Christian Perspective
Lee, E., & Choi, C. (2021) · Journal of Distribution Science · doi:10.15722/jds.19.2.202102.25 · Cited by 1
“Gillies & Neimeyer (2006) presented the process of reconstruction of meaning as another factor.”
Background
Life After the Storm: An Examination of Bereavement and Posttraumatic Growth Among Urban Adolescents
Platt, K. J., Marshall, H. M., Bogusz, P. A., Jason, L. A., Carter, J. S., & Grant, K. E. (2025) · OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying · doi:10.1177/00302228251315294 · Cited by 1
“In comparison, a “ natural death ” , such as at the end of a long life, tends to be easier to accept and requires less work to ﬁ nd meaning (Gillies & Neimeyer, 2006; Lehman et al., 1987).”
Entre a Dor e a Alegria: Repercussões Subjetivas no Ser Palhaço(a)
da Silva, J. P. N., Silva, C. V., Brandão, F. M. V., & Pedroso, J. D. S. (2022) · Estudos e Pesquisas em Psicologia · doi:10.12957/epp.2022.69562 · Cited by 1
Bereavement among Urban University Students: The Role of Meaning Making in Adjustment to Loss
Norris-Bell, R. (2012) · Cited by 1
Resilience in late-life bereavement : disentangling the relationship between resilience and cumulative lifetime loss.
Shah, S. N. (2013) · doi:10.18297/etd/1307 · Cited by 1
"We can't just tell the good stories": Reflections on Experiences of Storytelling and Restorative Justice
Salvail, D. J. (2015) · Summit (Simon Fraser University) · Cited by 1
Child Life Specialists Use of Bibliotherapy With Grieving Children: How Books Can be Used to Aid Emotional Expression, Meaning Making, and Healing
Thomas-Adams, H. (2015) · doi:10.13140/rg.2.1.4764.8161 · Cited by 1
An exploratory study of the experience of motherhood among maternally bereaved women
Lokker, L. J. (2010) · Rutgers University Community Repository (Rutgers University) · doi:10.7282/t35q4vxv · Cited by 1
Orthodox Jewish Mothers’ Lived Experiences of Perinatal Loss: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study
Greenwald, N. (2019) · TSpace (University of Toronto) · Cited by 1
Lost Without You: The Effects of Relationship Dissolution on the Self
Novoa, D. C. (2017) · doi:10.22215/etd/2017-12011 · Cited by 1
“Research on bereavement and identity has examined the possible factors that may contribute to perceived identity changes (e.g., Boelen, 2012; Gillies & Neimeyer, 2006; Park, 2010).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Moving Beyond Betrayal: How Meaning-Making and Power Promote Forgiveness Following Infidelity
Squires, E. C. (2014) · doi:10.22215/etd/2014-10468 · Cited by 1
The effects of constructive realism and attachment orientation on the adjustment of university students
Asliturk, E. (2009) · doi:10.22215/etd/2009-06246 · Cited by 1
Narrative Identity: the construction of the life story, autobiographical reasoning and psychological functioning in young adulthood
Banks, M. V. (2013) · doi:10.26686/wgtn.17005633.v1
“From a theoretical perspective, Gillies and Neimeyer (2006) argue that positive psychological adaptation following a negative life experience, such as bereavement, is associated with”
Background
Attachment, Parentally Bereaved Adolescents, and High School Outcomes in a Large Inner-City High School
Amar, S. (2011) · ProQuest Demo Repository
Sense of coherence: The relationship to personal growth and distress after a breakup
Gillen, K. R. (2011) · ScholarWorks - WMU (Western Michigan University)
For whom the bell tolls : meaning making at the end of life among Chinese terminal cancer patients in Hong Kong
Ng, P. O. K. (2014) · The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) · doi:10.5353/th_b5312356
Spirituality and Depression in Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse
Jacobs, M. C. (2014) · doi:10.7916/d8b56h1s
“Research has shown that this process, when successful, leads to better adjustment to the stressful event (Collie & Long, 2005; Gillies & Neimeyer, 2006; Greenberg, 1995; Lee, Cohen, Edgar, Laizner, & Gagnon, 2004; O’Connoe, 2002; Skaggs & Barron, 2006).”
Background
Stillbirth : a loss for the whole family
Avelin, P. (2013) · Figshare
DISENFRANCHISED GRIEF IN POSTPARTUM WOMEN: A HEURISTIC INQUIRY INTO WOMEN’S LIVED EXPERIENCE OF LOSS OF THE DREAMED-OF BIRTH
Kudeva, R. (2015) · doi:10.13140/rg.2.1.2880.3286
An examination of the relationship between attachment and loss : the role of meaning-making
Douglas, R. P. (2014) · Texas ScholarWorks (Texas Digital Library)
Making Meaning of Risk: Exploring Resilient Adolescents’ Interpretations of the Impact of Negative Life Experiences
D’Sa, N. (2015) · Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University)
Online parental accounts regarding a multimodal intervention for neurobehavioral disorders : A qualitative descriptive study
Spark, C. R. (2013) · University Library - University of Saskatchewan (University of Saskatchewan)
Enhancing the fraud detection skills of audit students using problem-based learning
McCormack, B. (2013) · Research Online (University of Wollongong)
Complicated Grief and the Quest for Meaning: Contributions to a Cognitive-Constructivist Model
Neimeyer, R. A. (2007) · Dialnet (Universidad de la Rioja)
Self-citation

Authors: Gillies, J., & Neimeyer, R. A.
Affiliations: Forensic Health Services
University of Memphis (US)
ORCID: Neimeyer, Robert A.
Venue: Journal of Constructivist Psychology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2006-01
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Pages: 31-65
ISSN: 1072-0537 (ISSN-L)
1521-0650
DOI: 10.1080/10720530500311182
OpenAlex: W2026626122
Cited by: 678
References: 109
Citations by year: 2026: 51 · 2025: 57 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 45 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 21
FWCI: 12.00
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Constructivist Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords: grief, bereavement, meaning reconstruction, sensemaking, benefit finding, personal transformation, adaptation to loss, clinical practice implications

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Loss, Grief, and the Search for Significance: Toward a Model of Meaning Reconstruction in Bereavement

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