The Impact of Relationship on Death Related Grief on Yoruba ...

Ozean Journal <strong>of</strong> Social Sciences 5(2), 2012
ISSN 1943-2577
© 2012 Ozean Publication
Ozean Journal <strong>of</strong> Social Sciences 5(2), 2012
THE IMPACT OF RELATIONSHIP ON DEATH RELATED GRIEF ON YORUBA
PEOPLE OF SOUTH WEST NIGERIA
Falana Bernard AKINLABI
Department <strong>of</strong> Guidance and Counselling,Faculty <strong>of</strong> Education
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
E-mail address for correspondence: falana2010@yahoo.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Abstract: <strong>The</strong> study investigated the impact <strong>of</strong> relationship on death related grief among the Yoruba people <strong>of</strong>
Southwest Nigeria. All the people living in South west Nigeria was the population. <strong>The</strong> descriptive research design
<strong>of</strong> the survey type was used. A sample <strong>of</strong> one thousand three hundred respondents was chosen using simple and
multistage sampling techniques. <strong>The</strong> instrument used for collecting data was a questionnaire titled “<strong>Relationship</strong>
and Death Related Grief Questionnaire”. This was rated on a four point scale. <strong>The</strong> face content and construct
validity <strong>of</strong> the instrument was ensured using appropriate experts in Tests and Measurement and Guidance and
Counselling. Reliability coefficient <strong>of</strong> 0.78 was obtained using test-re-test reliability method. Copies <strong>of</strong> the
instrument were administered by the researcher and trained assistants. <strong>The</strong> data generated was analysed using
frequency counts, simple percentages and t-test. <strong>The</strong> result <strong>of</strong> the analysis showed that there is no significant
difference between the attitude to grief <strong>of</strong> those related to the bereaved and those not related. It was recommended
that caregivers, teachers counsellors should note that the similarities in the attitude <strong>of</strong> people shows their concern
for grievers in Yorubaland.
Keywords: death related grief, southwest Nigeria,
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INTRODUCTION
Grief results from bereavement and it encompasses different kinds <strong>of</strong> reactions that follow a loss or series <strong>of</strong> loss
incurred whenever people sustain a loss that is related to death. People put up a lot <strong>of</strong> reactions in forms <strong>of</strong>
depression, the death <strong>of</strong> loved ones increases isolation, medical problems, it impacts on ones physical health it
impairs ones memory and concentration. Grief on the whole prevents one from enjoyment. <strong>The</strong> symptom <strong>of</strong>
depression affects every facet <strong>of</strong> ones life, there is depreciation in energy, appetite, sleep and interest in work,
hobbies and relationships.
Unfortunately whenever adults are grieving they don’t usually identify the symptoms <strong>of</strong> depression or don’t take the
steps to get the help needed. Bugen (1979) noted that the centrality <strong>of</strong> relationship may be determined by either a
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Ozean Journal <strong>of</strong> Social Sciences 5(2), 2012
behavioural commitment or an emotional commitment. A behavioural commitment is related to the role that the
deceased played in the bereaved’s life and vice versa. If the deceased husband was seriously dependent on his
surviving wife to meet his daily needs the bereaved widow may feel a great emptiness in her life, not only because <strong>of</strong>
emotional commitment to her husband but also because <strong>of</strong> the many hours in her day that she no longer fills with
tasks performed to take care <strong>of</strong> him. <strong>The</strong> loss is in form or role lost and object loss.
<strong>The</strong> death <strong>of</strong> a person who held a peripheral role in the survivor’s life is likely to trigger a less intense grief reaction
than one who held a central role when looking at severed relationship and its effect on the grief response one must
look beyond the centrality <strong>of</strong> the relationship in behavioural terms to the quality <strong>of</strong> the relationship and its centrality
in emotional terms (Rubin 1985, Wortman and Silverman, 1987). <strong>The</strong> death <strong>of</strong> someone who was regarded as an
intimate, a confidant, and a major source <strong>of</strong> support has a much greater impact than the death <strong>of</strong> someone who may
have spent much time with the survivor but was never emotionally close for example a person at work who is a mere
acquaintance rather than a close friend.
In the other sense if the bereaved perceive themselves to be similar to the deceased they may experience more grief
than those who perceive little similarity. Barnes (1978) noted that children whose same sex parent has died <strong>of</strong>ten
view themselves as particularly vulnerable to death. <strong>The</strong>se children may need special help differentiating themselves
from the deceased. Children whose siblings have dies may also feel vulnerable because <strong>of</strong> the perceived similarity in
their age.
<strong>The</strong> significance <strong>of</strong> the relationship <strong>of</strong> the bereaved to the deceased in Yorubaland plays a significant role in the
resolution <strong>of</strong> grief that follows the death <strong>of</strong> the loved ones. <strong>The</strong> Yoruba people <strong>of</strong> Nigeria always have their grief
prolonged due to impositions on them as a result <strong>of</strong> relationship exhibited in demands from the bereaved ritualised
way <strong>of</strong> funeral and burial. Majority <strong>of</strong> the Yoruba women appear to have problems reconciling their grief because <strong>of</strong>
their relationship to the deceased. <strong>The</strong> demands imposed on the bereaved in Yorubaland are made inexclusive <strong>of</strong> the
capacity <strong>of</strong> the bereaved. Majority <strong>of</strong> the relations <strong>of</strong> the deceased always appear to poke their noses on the
properties <strong>of</strong> the deceased thereby elongating the moodiness and precarious conditions <strong>of</strong> the bereaved. In most
cases mourners are made to purchase certain items, like clothing, food and preparation for rituals for the burial this
always elongates the mourning <strong>of</strong> the bereaved.
<strong>The</strong> death <strong>of</strong> a spouse is one <strong>of</strong> the emotionally stressful and disruptive events in life (Cramer, Keites & Zevon,
1990, Daggett 2002, Leahy, 1993.
<strong>The</strong>re are more women survivours (widows) than men (widowers), the bereaved spouse faces peculiarly problems
and stages <strong>of</strong> bereavement alone (Kubler – Ross 1964). Apart from shock and stress, many survios face serious
personal, emotional, economic, social, career family and community problems (Johnson, 1977), Osterweis, Solomon,
& Green 1984, pp 71 – 75; Rando, 1984).
Regardless <strong>of</strong> the age <strong>of</strong> parents or children, the death <strong>of</strong> a child is always a major loss (Edelstem 1984; Finkbeiner
1998, Kubler – Ross, 1983; Rando 1986 Roman<strong>of</strong>f, 1993, Silverman, 2000). Every parent is unique in terms <strong>of</strong>
needs, history, personality, coping style relationship to others, social concerns, family situation and sense <strong>of</strong> meaning
regarding the death <strong>of</strong> the child (Braun & Berg 1994; Finkbeiner 1998, Roman<strong>of</strong>f, 1993). Every parent suffers the
loss <strong>of</strong> a child differently. <strong>The</strong> death <strong>of</strong> a child is traumatic be it still birth sudden infant death, accident.
Children who experience the death <strong>of</strong> a parent and sibling may show overt signs <strong>of</strong> bereavement, in certain occasions
their grief may be covert, making the caregivers feel as if children are not affected by the loss Norris –Shortle,
Young and Williams (1993) have documented the fact that young children do grieve. Kandt (1994) indicated that 90
percent <strong>of</strong> junior and senior high schools students have experienced a loss associated with death. Adolescents are
bewildered with losses related to death and this has posted challenges to both adolescents and their caregivers. <strong>The</strong>se
causes <strong>of</strong> pessimism, futurelessness, confusion, depression and isolation (Schlubner & Peregoy, 1994).
From a developmental standpoint, bereavement among elderly people is compounded, by decreases in sensory
acuity, general decline in health; and reduced mobility. Having a lower income and fewer support people available
to them than in their younger years also represent changes that may affect them.
Elderly people generally experience more losses than do their younger ones. This are inform <strong>of</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> relatives and
friends, loss <strong>of</strong> job status, money loss <strong>of</strong> bodily functions and abilities loss <strong>of</strong> independence and self-respect
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Ozean Journal <strong>of</strong> Social Sciences 5(2), 2012
(Freeman 1978). <strong>The</strong> most pr<strong>of</strong>ound and devastating loss older people may encounter is the loss a spouse
(Schoenberg 1980).
It seems as if advancing age corroborates decrease in coping mechanism, there is corresponding decrease in physical
stamina and function or other factors according to (Schoenberg 1980). It is on the bases <strong>of</strong> the above that this
researcher is investigating whether there are differences in the relationship <strong>of</strong> people to death related grief.
RESEARCH RATIONALE
<strong>The</strong> researcher observed that it appears as if the relationship <strong>of</strong> the bereaved to the deceased impacts on duration <strong>of</strong>
grieving <strong>of</strong> the death by the bereaved. It appears as if the Yoruba people <strong>of</strong> Nigeria elongates their period <strong>of</strong>
grieving because there are inadequate resources like social support to cope with their grief. <strong>The</strong> relationship <strong>of</strong> the
bereaved seems to be one <strong>of</strong> the paramount factors accountable for increment <strong>of</strong> the tenacity <strong>of</strong> grief. This may be
responsible for decline in patterns <strong>of</strong> relationship <strong>of</strong> people in Yorubaland and it accounts for most <strong>of</strong> the moral
decadence permeating most <strong>of</strong> the places in Yorubaland Nigeria.
METHODOLOGY
<strong>The</strong> population consisted <strong>of</strong> all the Yoruba people <strong>of</strong> South West Nigeria correlational and survey research design
was used. <strong>The</strong> sample was 1397 respondents (old and young) chosen through simple and multistage sampling
technique. An instrument titled “<strong>Relationship</strong> and Death Related Grief (RDRG) was administered by the researcher
and trained researcher assistants for the collection <strong>of</strong> data. <strong>The</strong> face content and construct validities <strong>of</strong> the instrument
was ensured by experts in Test and Measurement and Guidance and Counselling. <strong>The</strong> reliability coefficient <strong>of</strong> 0.76
was obtained using test-re-test reliability method.
Hypothesis
<strong>The</strong>re is no significant difference in the attitude to death related grief <strong>of</strong> those people who are closely related to the
deceased and those not closely related. To test the hypothesis, subjects were categorized based on their relationship
to the deceased. Respondents who were children, parents and spouses <strong>of</strong> the deceased were said to be related closely
to the deceased while subjects like nephew, niece, uncle, friend, cousin, classmate, <strong>of</strong>fice mates and others were
categorized as not closely related to the deceased. <strong>The</strong> mean scores on attitude between the two main categorizations
“closely related” and “not closely related” were compared and subjected to t-test statistics at 0.05 level <strong>of</strong>
significance.
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Ozean Journal <strong>of</strong> Social Sciences 5(2), 2012
Table 1: t-test Analysis Between Attitude <strong>of</strong> Closely Related and Not Closely
Related People to Death Related Grief
Group N Mea
n
Closely 767 76.3
Related
3
Not 630 76.9
Closely
Related
0
P > 0.05 (Not significant)
S.D df t.cal t.table
7.7
7
8.6
0
<strong>The</strong> table above reveals that the mean difference between attitude <strong>of</strong> closely related and not closely related people is
not significant at 0.05 level <strong>of</strong> significance (t cal 1.298, t table 1.960). <strong>The</strong> t cal is less than the t table. <strong>The</strong>
hypothesis there is no significant difference in the attitude to grief <strong>of</strong> people who are related and those not closely
related is accepted.
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DISCUSSION
<strong>The</strong> mean difference between attitude <strong>of</strong> closely related and not closely related is not significant at 0.05 level <strong>of</strong>
significance t cal 1,298, t table 1.960, p > 0.05 therefore the null hypothesis which states that there is not significant
difference in the attitude to grief <strong>of</strong> the people who are closely related to the deceased and those not closely related is
accepted therefore there is no significant difference in the attitude to grief <strong>of</strong> people who are closely related to the
deceased and those not closely related. This finding contradicts the finding <strong>of</strong> Silverman (2000) that the death <strong>of</strong> a
child is always a major loss. Also Daggett (2002) asserted that the death <strong>of</strong> a spouse is one <strong>of</strong> the most emotionally
stressful and disruptive events in life.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the finding, above it is recommended that caregivers, counsellors and teachers should educate their clients
about the necessity to develop and direct positive attitude to mourners and bereaved to victims <strong>of</strong> death related grief.
Also prospective researchers should research into areas that will compare and contrast other cultures to be able to
find further the significance <strong>of</strong> relationship on longevity <strong>of</strong> grief.
1.298
1.960

Ozean Journal <strong>of</strong> Social Sciences 5(2), 2012
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