Likewise, Hofer (1984) examined the biological basis of bereavement. Specifically, Hofer (1984) sought to better understand how bereavement produces biologic changes in individuals. First, Hofer (1984) illustrated differences in psychological and physiological symptoms of bereavement. Psychological symptoms included but was not limited to inactivity, preoccupation, social withdrawal, depression, and anxiety (Hofer, 1984). Physiological symptoms included but was not limited to muscular weakness, sleep disturbance, lower body weight, and endocrine changes (Hofer, 1984). Hofer (1984) also distinguished between acute and chronic bereavement. Acute bereavement is brief, as it comes and goes within minutes, but the chronic is more longstanding,
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(2012) examined a study in which bereaved participants, with a high amount of grief, had more reduced immune responsiveness than individuals with significantly lower grief levels. In this assessment, it was reported that during the initial weeks of bereavement the participants had increased circulation of neutrophils and macrophages, but no changes to lymphocyte and natural killer cells (Buckley et al., 2012). Furthermore, subsequent assessments reported that in the following months, participant’s lymphocyte and natural killer cell function was decreased, which caused an altered immune response (Buckley et al., 2012). One suggested intervention technique for immunity difficulties was relaxation sessions (Buckley et al., 2012). This theory purported that because the body may be in a state of stress during bereavement, the immune system may be weakened and less able to complete daily functions (Buckley et al., 2012). Therefore, relaxation sessions will reduce stress-responses, which may give the immune system a chance to recover (Buckley et al., …show more content…
Specifically, Coifman et al. (2007) measured the discrepancy between emotional experience and sympathetic nervous system response. This study was conducted to demonstrate how repressive coping behaviors reduce pathological symptoms in grieving individuals. First, Coifman et al. (2007) stated that they measured a type of repressive coping, which was referred to as affective-autonomic response discrepancy (AARD). Moreover, AARD was defined by Bonanno, Keltner, Holen and Horowitz (1995) when participants reported limited negative affects during stressful laboratory tasks, while concurrently presenting intensified physiological responses (Coifman, Bonanno, Ray & Gross, 2007). In addition, Coifman et al. (2007) examined AARD behavior in individuals who had recently experienced bereavement, i.e., death of a spouse or child, and in individuals who had not recently experienced bereavement (Coifman, et al.,
(2012) examined a study in which bereaved participants, with a high amount of grief, had more reduced immune responsiveness than individuals with significantly lower grief levels. In this assessment, it was reported that during the initial weeks of bereavement the participants had increased circulation of neutrophils and macrophages, but no changes to lymphocyte and natural killer cells (Buckley et al., 2012). Furthermore, subsequent assessments reported that in the following months, participant’s lymphocyte and natural killer cell function was decreased, which caused an altered immune response (Buckley et al., 2012). One suggested intervention technique for immunity difficulties was relaxation sessions (Buckley et al., 2012). This theory purported that because the body may be in a state of stress during bereavement, the immune system may be weakened and less able to complete daily functions (Buckley et al., 2012). Therefore, relaxation sessions will reduce stress-responses, which may give the immune system a chance to recover (Buckley et al., …show more content…
Specifically, Coifman et al. (2007) measured the discrepancy between emotional experience and sympathetic nervous system response. This study was conducted to demonstrate how repressive coping behaviors reduce pathological symptoms in grieving individuals. First, Coifman et al. (2007) stated that they measured a type of repressive coping, which was referred to as affective-autonomic response discrepancy (AARD). Moreover, AARD was defined by Bonanno, Keltner, Holen and Horowitz (1995) when participants reported limited negative affects during stressful laboratory tasks, while concurrently presenting intensified physiological responses (Coifman, Bonanno, Ray & Gross, 2007). In addition, Coifman et al. (2007) examined AARD behavior in individuals who had recently experienced bereavement, i.e., death of a spouse or child, and in individuals who had not recently experienced bereavement (Coifman, et al.,