The Role of Dispositional Resilience in Regaining Life Satisfaction after the Loss of a Spouse

The purpose of the present study was to examine dispositional resilience in the perceived stress-life satisfaction relation following conjugal loss. The sample included 55 widows, assessed on average, 1 month following the death of a spouse. Results supported dispositional resilience as a mediator (the initial relation between perceived stress and life satisfaction was significant, but reduced to a non-significant level once dispositional resilience was included in the model) and a moderator (the interaction between perceived stress and dispositional resilience significantly predicted life satisfaction) between perceived stress and life satisfaction. This research identifies personality characteristics that may be importantly involved in the adjustment to widowhood and discusses implications of mediators vs. moderators in this process.