Luto e pensamento contrafactual: compreensão e avaliação das dinâmicas individuais sobre o luto familiar

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between counterfactual thinking and the grieving process in individuals who experienced the loss of a loved one.Investigating various dimensions of counterfactual thoughts during grief, the study aimed to analyze the dimensions of counterfactual thinking, its relationship with guilt, the prevalence of upward and downward thoughts, as well as its functionality in the elaboration of grief and its association with pathological grief. Through a qualitative approach, participants who had been grieving for over a year shared their experiences, revealing that 70% reported guilt associated with upward thoughts, such as Why didn't I pay more attention?. The absence of downward thoughts was attributed to the severity of the event, supporting the literature indicating its limited effectiveness in alleviating discomfort in emotionally intense situations. While counterfactual thoughts may aid in emotional processing and learning, their impact proved to be ambiguous: 30% of participants identified positive effects, while the remainder reported negative or mixed effects. The findings contributed to the theoretical and practical understanding of grief, providing insights for more effective therapeutic interventions.