THE ROLE OF LONELINESS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN ADJUSTMENT TO LOSS - A TEST OF ATTACHMENT VERSUS STRESS THEORY

A longitudinal study of a matched sample of 60 recently widowed and 60 married men and women tested predictions from stress and attachment t heory regarding the role of social support in adjustment to bereavemen t. Stress theory predicts a buffering effect, attributing the impact o f bereavement on well-being to stressful deficits caused by the loss a nd assuming that these deficits can be compensated through social supp ort. In contrast, attachment theory denies that supportive friends can compensate the loss of an attachment figure and predicts main effects of marital status and social support. Attachment theory further sugge sts that marital status and social support influence well-being by dif ferent pathways, with the impact of marital status mediated by emotion al loneliness and the impact of social support mediated by social lone liness. Results clearly supported attachment theory.