GRUESOMENESS, EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT, AND PERSONAL THREAT - DIMENSIONS OF THE ANTICIPATED STRESS OF BODY RECOVERY

Previous research has shown that exposure to grotesque death has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and higher levels of str ess have been associated with mortuary workers who anticipated handlin g remains than those who did not. Additional research is presented her e to further clarify the nature of the anticipated stress of handling the dead. Anticipated stress of handling human remains was rated for 1 3 different situations by 479 persons (384 men and 95 women) without s uch experience, but whose job was likely to require it. Factor analysi s of their ratings revealed three psychological dimensions: the grueso meness of the remains, an emotional link between the viewer and the re mains, and personal threats to the remains handler. Suggestions for pr eventive measures, training, and interventions for those who may handl e remains are made.