The Impact of Multiple Losses on the Grieving Process: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Twenty-eight responders (23 women, 5 men) to an invitation in Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) publications were interviewed by telephone to assess the impact of multiple losses on the grieving process. All had experienced death(s). Most had also experienced self- or family injury, health problems, divorce or separation, or other problems. Grief lasted longest for losses close in time, was completed soonest when losses were more spaced apart, and required an intermediate amount of time for simultaneous losses. People generally grieved one loss at a time, even for simultaneous losses. Personal injuries altered grieving patterns. Multiple losses affected individuals' health, marriages, faith, finances, jobs, emotions, and personalities.