Prevalence and correlates of positive and negative psychological effects of bereavement due to COVID-19: A living systematic review

Reitsma, Lyanne; Killikelly, Clare; Müller, Heidi; Larsen, Lene; Boelen, Paul A.; Lenferink, Lonneke

doi:10.12688/f1000research.130397.1

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Moreover, previous studies mainly focused on the recent loss of a loved one and therefore inferences could only be drawn about the severity of acute PGD symptoms (namely within six months post-loss) (Kustanti et al, 2023;Reitsma et al, 2023a). Lastly, our sample is homogeneous in terms of the circumstances surrounding the loss (i.e., people were bereaved at relatively the same time and were exposed to similar COVID-19 stressors), ruling out that these factors may have affected the results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Grief experts (e.g., Breen, 2020;Eisma et al, 2020;Kokou-Kpolou et al, 2020a) anticipated a potential "grief epidemic", given the supposed high risk of PGD among people who suffered the loss of a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research on the psychological impact of bereavement during the pandemic has primarily been crosssectional, precluding conclusions about the course of grief reactions over time (e.g., Kustanti et al, 2023;Reitsma et al, 2023a). This is the first study examining trajectories and predictors of PGD, according to DSM-5-TR criteria, in people who have lost a loved one during the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While cross-sectional research on prevalence rates and correlates of PGD in people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic is growing (for reviews, see Kustanti et al, 2023;Reitsma et al, 2023a), little is known on the long term consequences of bereavement during the pandemic. So far, only one longitudinal study has been conducted which demonstrated relatively high PGD symptoms over time in people bereaved during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (Harrop et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trajectories of DSM-5-TR Prolonged Grief Disorder Severity in the First Two Years After Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Reitsma,

Mooren,

Mouthaan

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Due to the presumed high risk for prolonged grief disorder (PGD) in people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to examine how grief develops over time in this population. This is the first study examining longitudinal symptom-profiles of PGD severity in people bereaved during the pandemic. We aimed to identify latent trajectories of DSM-5-TR PGD severity and predictors thereof in Dutch adults bereaved during the pandemic. Latent class growth modeling was employed to identify differential trajectories of PGD severity in 266 people bereaved on average 115 days prior when entering the study. Participants completed a PGD measure online (using the Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report-Plus) at three time-intervals six months apart. Associations between class-membership and socio-demographic, loss-related, health-related, and trauma-related characteristics were examined using multinomial logistic regression. Three trajectories were identified: Low/decreasing PGD symptoms (74%), Mild/stable PGD symptoms (18%), and High/decreasing PGD trajectory (8%). Closer kinship to the deceased, poorer self-rated health status, and having a mental disorder increased the likelihood of belonging to the Mild/stable PGD symptoms and High/decreasing PGD trajectories. This study provides insights in longitudinal PGD symptom-profiles in people bereaved during the pandemic. We found that PGD severity either remained low/mild or eventually decreased over time.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trajectories of DSM-5-TR Prolonged Grief Disorder Severity in the First Two Years After Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Reitsma,

Mooren,

Mouthaan

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…Most existing qualitative studies fail to account for the differences between COVID-19 losses and those due to other causes of death. Moreover, very few of these studies focus on how factors that facilitate grief were adapted or on those areas where the pandemic may have had a positive impact (21).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grief Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Spain

Redondo-Armenteros,

Pérez-Marfil,

Fernández-Alcántara

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Introduction: The recent COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in the number of people bereaved by the death of a loved one. There are many pandemic-related stressors that may have further complicated grief in these people. The aim of this research was to analyse the shared experiences and strategies of those who lost a loved one during the pandemic. Method: The sample consists of 42 participants who lost loved ones to COVID-19 or other causes (both natural and sudden). An inductive approach using grounded theory with open, axial and selective coding was used to analyse the semi-structured open-ended interviews. Results: The resulting theory was structured around a central category: “Processes of Loss and Grief in Pandemics". The other relevant and related categories were: disease processes during the pandemic, emotional responses to the loss, factors facilitating the grieving process and obstacles to the grieving process. The various analytical categories were then further classified with reference to the Dual Process Model. Conclusion: This study highlights the main features of grief during the pandemic, including the impact of restrictive measures on disease processes, the funeral rituals performed and subsequent coping; responses such as intense shock, anger, fear or loneliness; and the way in which facilitating factors of the grief process were adapted to the circumstances.

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A Latent Class Analysis on Indicators of Early Prolonged Grief Disorder and Well‐Being Among Dutch Adults Bereaved During the First Year of the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Reitsma,

Mooren,

Mouthaan

et al. 2024

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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Most studies examining prolonged grief disorder (PGD) in people bereaved during the COVID‐19 pandemic are focused on psychopathology. However, mental health encompasses both absence of psychopathology and presence of well‐being. This is the first study examining symptom profiles of early PGD and subjective mental well‐being in 266 Dutch adults recently bereaved during the pandemic. Early PGD and well‐being indicators were assessed with the Traumatic Grief Inventory–Self Report Plus and the World Health Organization–Five Well‐Being Index, respectively. Latent class analysis identified four classes: low PGD/high well‐being (32%), low PGD/moderate well‐being (24%), moderate PGD/high well‐being (23%) and high PGD/low well‐being class (21%). People in the poorer mental health classes were more likely to be female, lower educated, suffering from a mental disorder, have a poor health status, closer kinship to the deceased, and higher risk of severe COVID‐19. Classifying adults according to symptom profiles of negative and positive outcomes provides a more complete picture of mental health in bereaved people and offers potential intervention targets.

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Prevalence and correlates of positive and negative psychological effects of bereavement due to COVID-19: A living systematic review

Cited by 5 publications

References 75 publications

Trajectories of DSM-5-TR Prolonged Grief Disorder Severity in the First Two Years After Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Trajectories of DSM-5-TR Prolonged Grief Disorder Severity in the First Two Years After Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Grief Responses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Spain

A Latent Class Analysis on Indicators of Early Prolonged Grief Disorder and Well‐Being Among Dutch Adults Bereaved During the First Year of the COVID‐19 Pandemic

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