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Pandemic grief risk factors and prolonged grief disorder in bereaved young adults during COVID-19

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2023

Sydnie Schneider Open the ORCID record for Sydnie Schneider [Opens in a new window] ,
Peter O. Rerick Open the ORCID record for Peter O. Rerick [Opens in a new window] ,
Caroline Cummings Open the ORCID record for Caroline Cummings [Opens in a new window] ,
Elisabeth McLean Open the ORCID record for Elisabeth McLean [Opens in a new window] ,
Lauren J. Breen Open the ORCID record for Lauren J. Breen [Opens in a new window]  and
Jonathan Singer Open the ORCID record for Jonathan Singer [Opens in a new window]
Sydnie Schneider
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-9819, USA
Peter O. Rerick
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Caroline Cummings
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-9819, USA
Elisabeth McLean
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-9819, USA
Lauren J. Breen
Affiliation:
Curtin enAble Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Jonathan Singer*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-9819, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Jonathan Singer, Department of Psychological Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-9819, USA. Email: jonsinge@ttu.edu
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Abstract

Objectives

This study evaluated whether COVID-19-specific risk factors (e.g., feeling guilty for not being present with the deceased at the time of the loss and feeling emotionally distant from the deceased prior to the loss) were associated with prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptomatology or diagnosis among young adults bereaved due to any cause (e.g., illness and violent loss).

Methods

We surveyed 196 young adults who had a family member/close friend die during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed the PGD-12 Questionnaire and the 10-item Pandemic Grief Risk Factors (PGRF) Questionnaire.

Results

More time spent with the deceased before the loss and greater endorsement of pandemic grief risk factors were associated with increased PGD symptoms and a greater likelihood of meeting the diagnostic criteria for PGD.

Significance of results

The COVID-19 pandemic created unique risk factors that affected the grieving process for bereaved individuals, regardless of whether the death was related to COVID-19 infection. These findings add to a growing body of literature examining grief and loss within the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic and suggest that there may be detrimental long-term psychological outcomes for these bereaved individuals, regardless of the cause of death. Routine screening for these unique risk factors in medical and psychological clinics is warranted to help identify those individuals who could benefit from early intervention. Also, it will be important to understand and possibly modify evidence-based interventions and prevention programs to directly address the identified unique PGRF.

Keywords

Prolonged grief disorderPandemic grief risk factorsCOVID-19Young adultsPre-loss contact
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 21 , Issue 5 , October 2023 , pp. 836 - 842
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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