What is the Role of Culture on the level of Emotional Expression in Bereavement?

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of different cultural factors on the level of emotional expression of bereaved participants. Cultural elements examined were between-country differences, collectivism and individualism, along with within-country difference, rural and urban areas. 244 respondents from four different countries (the Netherlands, Serbia, Lebanon, and America) completed the Berkeley Emotional Expressivity Questionnaire and Inventory of Complicated Grief. It was expected to find differences in level of emotional expression between participants living in collectivistic or individualistic countries, between those living in rural or urban areas, and finally an association between the two different set of cultural elements. However, results showed that levels of emotional expression did not differ in any of the cultural elements mentioned. Implications based on these findings were discussed.