Abstract:

The relationship between the deceased and bereaved may not terminate upon death; an ongoing inner relationship with the deceased person may be presented by the bereaved individual, which is defined as continuing bonds (CB). CB is universal across different cultures. CB expressions seem to vary along several dimensions, e.g. locus of bond, initiating agent. The role that continuing bonds plays in adjustment to bereavement has received considerable attention in recent years, with complex and contradictory findings emerging across studies. Further studies should explore the manifestations and specific meanings of CB, the types of CB, and develop measurement tools on local culture. Meanwhile, more theory-driven empirical studies need to be conducted in the future.

Key words: continuing bonds, bereavement and grief, adaptation, internalized CB, externalized CB