TY - JOUR
T1 - Prolonged grief reactions after old age spousal loss and centrality of the loss in post loss identity
AU - Eckholdt, Lena
AU - Watson, Lynn
AU - O'Connor, Maja
N1 - Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - BACKGROUND: The loss of a spouse is a major life event. Previous research found that centrality of the loss to one's identity using Centrality of Event Scale (CES) is related to complicated bereavement reactions, such as depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS), and prolonged grief symptoms (PGS). This study aims to examine loss-centrality in elderly bereaved people up to 4 years post loss, to determine the relation of loss-centrality to complicated bereavement reactions, such as PGS, depression, and PTS, and to identify early predictors of loss-centrality.METHOD: Self-reported data were collected from 208 elderly bereaved people (mean age 72 years, 63.9% women), who completed measures of psychological distress (PTS, depression, PGS) as well as intra- and interpersonal factors (coping-style, crisis support, satisfaction with life, and NEO-PI-R) at 2, 6, and 48 months post spousal loss. CES was measured 48 months post spousal loss.RESULTS: In line with previous findings (Boelen, 2012a), loss-centrality 4 years following the loss was significantly related to depression, PTS, and PGS. Additionally, early PGS and gender predicted later loss-centrality.LIMITATIONS: Self-repport data was used rather than clinical interviews. CES was only measured 48 months post loss. PGS was first measured 6 months post.CONCLUSIONS: The results support the link between loss-centrality and post loss psychopathology in a population particularly vulnerable to complicated bereavement reactions. The close link between prolonged grief and CES may be relevant in developing treatments for PGS, especially considering the potential relationship between high CES, high PGS, and possibly lack of acceptance of the loss.
AB - BACKGROUND: The loss of a spouse is a major life event. Previous research found that centrality of the loss to one's identity using Centrality of Event Scale (CES) is related to complicated bereavement reactions, such as depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS), and prolonged grief symptoms (PGS). This study aims to examine loss-centrality in elderly bereaved people up to 4 years post loss, to determine the relation of loss-centrality to complicated bereavement reactions, such as PGS, depression, and PTS, and to identify early predictors of loss-centrality.METHOD: Self-reported data were collected from 208 elderly bereaved people (mean age 72 years, 63.9% women), who completed measures of psychological distress (PTS, depression, PGS) as well as intra- and interpersonal factors (coping-style, crisis support, satisfaction with life, and NEO-PI-R) at 2, 6, and 48 months post spousal loss. CES was measured 48 months post spousal loss.RESULTS: In line with previous findings (Boelen, 2012a), loss-centrality 4 years following the loss was significantly related to depression, PTS, and PGS. Additionally, early PGS and gender predicted later loss-centrality.LIMITATIONS: Self-repport data was used rather than clinical interviews. CES was only measured 48 months post loss. PGS was first measured 6 months post.CONCLUSIONS: The results support the link between loss-centrality and post loss psychopathology in a population particularly vulnerable to complicated bereavement reactions. The close link between prolonged grief and CES may be relevant in developing treatments for PGS, especially considering the potential relationship between high CES, high PGS, and possibly lack of acceptance of the loss.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.010
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29136603
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 227
SP - 338
EP - 344
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -