Which term reflects a person's difficulty in accepting a death?

The term that reflects a person's difficulty in accepting a death is denial. In the context of grief and mourning, denial is a common emotional response where an individual struggles to acknowledge the reality of the loss. This can manifest as a refusal to believe that the loved one has died or a sense of disbelief about the finality of death. Denial serves as a coping mechanism, allowing the person to process their emotions gradually.

Other terms, while related to emotional responses, do not specifically capture this difficulty with acceptance. Apathy refers to a lack of interest or concern, which does not reflect the intense emotional struggle typically associated with grief. Deprivation generally refers to the absence of something that is desired or needed, but it doesn't directly relate to the emotional response to death. Acceptance, on the other hand, indicates a stage in the grieving process where the individual comes to terms with the loss, which is the opposite of struggling to accept it.

Thus, denial accurately captures the initial difficulty many experience when faced with the reality of death.