Pathological grief: the attitudes and perceptions of Maltese society

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate Maltese society's cultural attitudes towards pathological grief and thereby obtain an understanding of the point at which locals believe typical grief patterns become a concern that requires clinical intervention. A qualitative approach was adopted as it allows for an in-depth understanding of the personal opinions and perceptions of locals and professionals. Two focus groups were conducted amongst university students and the other amongst psychologists. Data was analysed thematically and yielded four main themes, namely: distinction between normal and prolonged grief, variables influencing course of grief, manifestations of grief, and categorisation of grief. Responses indicated that locals place a greater importance on behavioural manifestations of grief than emotions, preferring to be seen grieving while avoiding talking about their loss. The focus groups conducted suggest that locals expect: the grieving phase to last for more than 12 months, and marked functional impairment, beyond which therapeutic help is recommended.