Luto conjugal ressignificado durante a velhice: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

Over the years, bereavement has been widely and systematically studied moreover, it is consensual, in scientific literature, that it is a universal and multifactorial process. However, studies on bereavement among the elderly, particularly related to widowhood, are still incipient. Thus, in this work, we want to assess the various ways in which loss is re-signified by the elderly and which variables are associated with it. Therefore, the research was carried out in different databases that have allowed us to identify 4738 studies that had served our purpose. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 37 studies were selected for analysis, all published between 2010 and 2020. The main results point to different forms of resignification, sometimes from a healthy perspective (resilience), but also a negative perspective (physical and emotional impairments). The variables related to this process are social support, religiosity, belief after death, relationship quality, and grief associated with redefining roles in old age. In general, we concluded that, when supported in the process of conceiving the loss, the elderly seems to overcome pain and trauma and build up new meaning to their lives.