Living in limbo: Coping and psychological outcomes among people with a missing loved one

Ambiguous loss is an uncertain loss that occurs without closure or clear understanding. The ambiguous loss experienced by those left behind when a person is missing places them at heightened risk of developing prolonged grief disorder as well as posttraumatic stress and other psychological difficulties. Limited research has examined coping processes and mechanisms of therapeutic change in grief and other psychological symptoms among individuals with a missing loved one. Drawing on components of several theoretical frameworks, this thesis comprises five studies which aim to explore psychological processes that may influence post-disappearance psychological outcomes.