Spousal Mourning for Partners Living with Cognitive Impairment: The Interplay of Attachment and the Two-Track Model of Dementia Grief

The aim of the present research was to study the interplay of Attachment Theory and the Two-Track Model of Dementia Grief. To examine the research hypotheses, a cross-sectional study was designed and included 122 participants (Mean age = 72.77) drawn from four groups: spouses of people living with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, spouses of people living with advanced cognitive impairment, widowed spouses of deceased dementia patients, and a control group. Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires. Results showed that secure attachment constitutes a significant protective factor with regard to bio-psycho-social symptomatology (Track I) as well as difficulties in the relational bond with the spouse and grief over their deterioration (Track II). The results of the research support integrating attachment-based insights into clinical work with spouses coping with the losses accompanying cognitive decline and the grief processes that are operant in these losses.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Attachment Theory and the Two-Track Model of Dementia Grief. The results of a cross-sectional study with 122 participants showed that secure attachment serves as a protective factor for spouses coping with cognitive decline and grief processes. This finding provides valuable insights for clinical work with individuals dealing with the losses and grief associated with cognitive decline.