Does Talking at the End of Life Matter?: Exploring the Associations between Final Conversations (Fcs) and Coping Strategies

The purpose of this investigation was to quantitatively examine associations between retrospectively recalled final conversations (FCs) with the outcome of coping strategies. Two-hundred thirty-six individuals participated in an online survey. Correlations revealed significant, positive associations between the FCs factors with coping strategies. Moreover, multiple regressions revealed the following: messages of identity significantly predicted positive reappraisal and cognitive monitoring; difficult relationship talk significantly predicted self and other distancing; and, messages of spirituality significantly predicted the use of faith as a coping tool. Overall, results suggest that retrospectively recalled engagement in FCs are associated with coping strategies after the death of a relational partner. Theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.