[Continuing bonds, men, and women in bereavement: A secondary analysisContinuidade de vínculos, homens e mulheres enlutados por um ente querido: uma análise secundária].

INTRODUCTION

Grief is a complex response to the loss of a loved one with different ways of adjustment, and Continuing Bonds are part of its nature.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze men's and women's experiences of grief in terms of perception of closeness to the deceased, Continuing Bonds, and Nursing diagnoses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Secondary analysis. A convenience sample of 251 Spanish-speaking adult mourners, residents of the Canary Islands, was used. Data was collected via an online survey consisting of socio-demographic, health, and loss-related characteristics, the Inclusion of Other in the Self scale, the Continuing Bonds Scale, and Nursing diagnoses. Descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman's coefficient were used. Level of significance p<0.05.

RESULTS

The mean age was 45.09 years ±10.38 years; 22.70% (57) were male, and 77.30% (194) were female. Significant differences were found between men and women in the perception of closeness to the deceased (p<0.05), and significant relationships were found between the perception of closeness to the deceased, Continuing Bonds, and Nursing diagnoses (p=0.001).

DISCUSSION

A comparison of the results with other studies shows some consistencies and differences in the behavior of the variables, demonstrating the dynamism of the phenomenon.

CONCLUSIONS

For this group of participants, the experience of grief would not be linked to social constructions of gender but instead respond to a coping response according to their needs. Understanding the grieving process allows Mental Health Nursing to implement interventions based on the Nursing Process.