Value-Affirmation for Grief

(SAGE Trial)

This trial aims to explore how a self-affirmation activity, known as value-affirmation, affects the heart's response to recalling grief. Participants will perform either a self-affirming task or a neutral task before remembering a loss. The goal is to determine if boosting self-worth can help manage stress on the heart during these emotional moments. Ideal participants are English-speaking adults who have lost a family member or friend in the last 2 to 18 months. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding emotional resilience and heart health.

The trial excludes people who are taking medications that might affect heart or brain functions, so you may need to stop certain medications to participate.

Previous studies have shown that self-affirmation tasks help people feel better about themselves and manage stress. They can even improve heart health during stressful times. Research indicates that self-affirmation lowers anxiety and boosts self-esteem. These tasks are generally easy to perform, and participants typically report no major problems or side effects. Based on other studies, participating in a trial involving self-affirmation is likely safe.¹²³⁴⁵

Most treatments for grief focus on therapy or medication to manage symptoms over time. However, this value-affirmation approach is unique because it taps into personal values to boost self-worth right before confronting grief. Researchers are excited because this method could offer immediate emotional support without relying on traditional medication, potentially providing a more personalized and empowering way to cope with grief. This approach might help people feel more resilient and better equipped to handle their emotions by reinforcing their sense of self.

Research has shown that self-affirmation activities positively affect mental health, help manage stress, and improve decision-making. Studies have found small but meaningful improvements in self-perception and overall well-being through self-affirmation. These activities can also reduce stigma and encourage positive expectations in counseling. Although specific research on using self-affirmation for grief is lacking, these general findings suggest it might help improve heart health when recalling sad memories. In this trial, participants will randomly receive either a self-affirming task or a non-affirming neutral task before engaging in grief recall. The goal of self-affirmation is to boost self-worth, potentially supporting those dealing with grief.¹³⁶⁷⁸