Expectancy of spousal death and adjustment to conjugal bereavement

Previous findings on the role of expectancy of spousal death in adjustment to bereavement are inconclusive due to methodological shortcomings. This st udy examined the impact of subjective and objective expectancy on adjustmen t, while addressing the methodological problems of previous studies. At six months postbereavement, 97 midlife bereaved adults responded to interview questions regarding expectancy of their spouse's death. They also completed the Beck Depression Inventory and Texas Revised Inventory of Grief, at 6, 13, and 25 months postbereavement. Greater objective expectancy was associa ted with lower symptoms at all three postbereavement periods. Subjective ex pectancy was not related to symptoms, however. The clinical implications of objective expectancy's role on bereavement-related adjustment are addresse d.