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Predictors of psychological adjustment after bereavement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2006

Simone Onrust ,
Pim Cuijpers ,
Filip Smit  and
Ernst Bohlmeijer
Simone Onrust
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands
Pim Cuijpers
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Filip Smit
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ernst Bohlmeijer
Affiliation:
Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Abstract

Background: The impact of spousal bereavement on mental health varies among the widowed. More information is needed on factors influencing bereavement outcome.

Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a sample of 216 widowed individuals. Initial non-response was high, with only 8% of all approached persons participating in the study. The influence of demographic and psychosocial predictors on four general outcome measures (depression, anxiety, somatization, and quality of life) and one loss-related outcome (complicated grief) was studied by means of backward linear regression analysis. Further analyses were performed to explore the possibility of a buffer effect.

Results: Depressive symptomatology was best predicted by: age, duration of widowhood, perceived non-supportiveness, physical disorders, and mastery. The other outcome measures were predicted by the same predictors supplemented by gender and education. Mastery interacted with the number of physical disorders while perceived social support interacted with duration of widowhood and age.

Conclusions: Enhancement of mastery should probably be one of the components of effective support for widowed individuals most vulnerable to psychiatric complications. The widowed could furthermore benefit from social support. Obviously, these suggestions need to be further examined in longitudinal research with more representative samples.

Keywords

anxietycomplicated griefdepressionmasterysocial supportwidowwidower
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 19 , Issue 5 , October 2007 , pp. 921 - 934
Copyright
International Psychogeriatric Association 2006

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