THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GRIEVING PROCESS, FAMILY BACKGROUND AND QUALITY OF HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS IN WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR FATHERS DURING ADOLESCENCE

Death of a parent during adolescence may damage the adolescent's development by hindering the normal emotional processes leading to adulthood (Laufer, 1964). If the adolescent does not mourn it can have a deleterious effect on the quality of the relationships formed by the adult in later life (Fleming & Altschul, 1963). This study was designed to investigate the relationship between completion of the grieving process, selected family variables, and the quality of heterosexual relationships in women who lost their fathers during adolescence. The relationships between these variables and the grief process were examined through the use of hierarchical and stepwise multiple regression analyses. The study employed an ex post facto correlational design with completion of the grieving process, measured by the Modified Grief Work Survey, and attitudes toward family, measured by the Family Adjustment Test, as the independent variables. The Caring Relationship Inventory (Shostrum, 1966) and the Quality of Relationship Questionnaire (Kleinberg, 1982) were the dependent variables. Subjects were 30 women college students presently in relationships for at least one year or more who lost their fathers during adolescence. They were from three universities in New York City: Pace University, New York University, and Fordham University. Each subject volunteered to participate in the study during the Fall 1982 semester. The findings indicated that the more unresolved oedipal and attachment feelings the women have in relationship to their fathers, the greater discrepancy there is between their ideal and present partner. Also, it was found that completion of the grieving process was not significantly related to the quality of heterosexual relationships. Neither the Caring Relationship Inventory nor the Quality of Relationship Questionnaire correlated significantly with the Modified Grief Work Survey. The Modified Grief Survey did correlate significantly with the expression of emotions in the subject's present heterosexual relationship. That is, a relatively quick and total completion of the grief process was associated with frequent expression of emotion by the women in their current relationships. Methodological considerations and problems regarding the measures were discussed. Recommendations were made regarding the need for further research.