Toward the development of an inventory of daily widowed life (IDWL): guided by the dual process model of coping with bereavement

Abstract

The Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement (M. Stroebe & H. Schut, 1999) suggests that the most effective adaptation involves oscillation between 2 coping processes: loss-orientation (LO) and restoration-orientation (RO). A 22-item Inventory of Daily Widowed Life (IDWL) was developed to measure these processes and the oscillation between them and assessed by examining 163 bereaved widow(er)s, ages 45-94 years. The LO and RO subscales produced alpha coefficients of .90 and .79, respectively. The more recently widowed demonstrated a high degree of oscillation balance between the two processes, while there was a greater emphasis on restoration-orientation among those bereaved longer. Both subscales generated significant relationships with the bereavement outcome measures used in this study. Furthermore, restoration-orientation was directly related to the level of self-care and daily living skills as well as personal growth. We identify six dimensions of oscillation that warrant further consideration and encourage others to help develop and refine all features of the IDWL and make it adaptable to other loss relationships.