Physiological and psychological symptoms of grief in widows

Abstract

In this cross-sectional descriptive survey of 173 widows, we describe their grief symptoms using an open-ended questionnaire and the Revised Grief Experience Inventory. Self-reported physical symptoms included pain, gastro-intestinal problems, medical/surgical conditions, sleep disturbances, and neurological/circulatory issues. Psychological symptoms were reported as depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The mean total grief score was 71.4 +/- 30.2 (possible range 22-132). Physical symptoms were significantly correlated with the total mean grief score, and subscales of physical distress, depression, existential tension, and guilt. When the subjects were grouped by years since loss, (range 1-5 years), there was no significant decrease found in overall grief scores, suggesting symptoms of grief experienced by widows may continue up to at least 5 years.

Prolonged Grief Disorder and Depression in a German Community Sample

“…Our study showed a substantial variability in time since the loss, with a mean of six years post-loss, and still found no significant association between the time since the death and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms. This is congruent with other studies that have demonstrated that symptoms of grief may continue up to at least five years (Kowalski & Bondmass, 2008). It seems that grief does not lessen in all cases over time and that the attachment or bonding to the lost person and the emotional closeness felt to that person might be more important than the mere passing of time.…”

Guilt in Bereavement: A Review and Conceptual Framework

“…Guilt is found to diminish with time in longitudinal studies among bereaved parents (Bohannon, 1991a;Lang, Gottlieb, & Amsel, 1996), but not in crosssectional studies among bereaved spouses (Kowalski & Bondmass, 2008;Zisook & Shuchter, 1985) or among diverse sub-groups of bereaved people (Akiyama, Numata, & Mikami, 2010;Mizota et al, 2006). Whether the time course of guilt differs across subgroups or countries is open to further exploration.…”

“…For example, guilt is found to be concurrently or longitudinally associated with psychological distress (Davis et al, 1995;Downey, Silver, & Wortman, 1990;Field & Bonanno, 2001;Field, GUILT IN BEREAVEMENT Bonanno, Williams, & Horowitz, 2000;Horowitz et al, 1984;Torges, Stewart, & Nolen-Hoeksema, 2008). One study found a positive correlation between guilt and psychiatric as well as traumatic reactions (Mizota et al, 2006), and another two documented an association between guilt and impaired physical health (Hazzard et al, 1992;Kowalski & Bondmass, 2008). The association between guilt and greater maladjustment is also reflected in positive correlations between guilt and normal or complicated grief symptoms (Akiyama et al, 2010;Boelen & Lensvelt-Mulders, 2005;Boelen, van den Bout, & van den Hout, 2003;Field et al, 2000;Gamino et al, 2000;Mizota et al, 2006;Weinberg, 1994Weinberg, , 1995.…”

“…However, based on measures adopted in different studies, guilt has been variously conceptualized, for example, as a coping strategy (e.g., Garnefski & Kraaij, 2009), a group of cognitions (e.g., Boelen et al, 2003), or an emotion that is part of grief (e.g., Kowalski & Bondmass, 2008). It is difficult to build on the knowledge of guilt in bereavement without clear and consistent conceptualization.…”

The Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Associations of Grief and Complicated Grief With Sleep Quality in Older Adults

“…All of these facets of grief could lead to changes in sleep patterns. Several studies (Hall et al, 1997;Kowalski & Bondmass, 2008;Monk, Begley, et al, 2008) suggest that grief is associated with significant sleep impairment. However, our knowledge regarding the associations of complicated grief with sleep is limited, as only a few studies with small sample size and a cross-sectional design have been conducted (Boelen & Lancee, 2013;Germain, Caroff, Buysse, & Shear, 2005;Maytal et al, 2007;Monk, Begley, et al, 2008;Purebl, Pilling, Konkoly, Bodizs, & Kopp, 2012;Spira, Stone, Beaudreau, Ancoli-Israel, & Yaffe, 2009).…”