IMPACT ON PERSONALITY LOSS OR SEPARATION FROM LOVED ONES VIOLETA CARDENAL and M. PILAR SA ´ NCHEZ-LO ´ PEZ Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments II, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain MARGARITA ORTIZ-TALLO Department de Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatments, University of M alaga, M alaga, Spain The purpose of this work was twofold: (a) using a set of 29 psychological vari- ables to study the personality traits, emotions, and coping styles that emerge with more force in the stressing situation of losing a loved one and (b) determining whether there are significant differences between divorced and widowed persons. The results revealed a profile predominated by emotional instability, introversion, a disorganized lifestyle, anxiety, anger, and maladaptive strategies. This con- figuration was more pronounced in the group of widowed people because of their notable isolation, lack of motivation, and strong emotional reactions of depression, which, together with their high rate of negative coping behaviors (e.g., ceasing to seek solutions and social support), are risk factors for depression, mood disorders, and anxiety as well as avoidant or depressive personality traits. Losing a loved one can produce an unforgettable emotional impact and leave a scar that, to some extent, marks one’s identity. The purpose of this research is to study in depth the consequences of this life event, in order to help heal the wounds that may pervade so many human lives. The relations between personality and stress affect indivi- duals’ physical and psychological health. Most psychopathological disorders originate after an event that has overwhelmed the person Received 22 November 2004; accepted 11 January 2005. This study is part of a research project titled ‘‘Personality, Chronic Stress, and Health,’’ which is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Reference Number BSO2002- 00910). Address correspondence to Violeta Cardenal, Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluaci on y Tratamientos Psicol ogicos II, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. E-mail: vcardenal@psi.ucm.es 267 Journal of Loss and Trauma, 10:267–292, 2005 Copyright # Taylor & Francis Inc. ISSN: 1532-5024 print/1532-5032 online DOI: 10.1080/15325020590928225