The study reported in this article examined whether an individual’s propensity to experience emotional distress & restraint are predictive of grief intensity. Sample: 51 older widow(er)s. Characteristic distress was found to be a significant predictor of present grief intensity, whereas repressive defensiveness was found to predict past grief, as recalled from the time of loss. Results are discussed in light of known risk factors for complicated bereavement & intervention concerns. (32 Refs.)