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Subjective and objective traumatic death: distinct roles in developing complicated grief and depression among older adults in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 November 2016

Suqin Tang  and
Amy Y. M. Chow
Suqin Tang
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Amy Y. M. Chow*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Amy Y. M. Chow, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. Phone: +852 39175530; Fax: +852 2858 7604. Email: chowamy@hku.hk.
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Abstract

Background:

Symptoms of complicated grief are associated with a traumatic death. However, the subjective experience of whether or not the death was considered traumatic has not been substantially explored. This study first examined the difference between objective and subjective traumatic death, and then investigated their respective impacts on complicated grief and depressive symptoms following bereavement among older adults in Hong Kong.

Methods:

Participants were 187 Hong Kong adults aged 65 years or above who had lost a family member within the past five years. Demographic information, the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were utilized.

Results:

The subjective traumatic level of the death did not differ between the objective traumatic and non-traumatic death as defined by nature of death (t = −1.554, p = 0.122). Higher subjective traumatic levels and younger age of the deceased, were positively related to complicated grief symptoms, F (10, 161) = 14.222, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.469. Higher subjective traumatic levels and older age of the bereaved were positively associated with symptoms of depression, F (10, 160) = 2.855, p = 0.003, R2 = 0.151. However, objective traumatic death was found to have no relation to either complicated grief or depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

Subjective and objective traumatic death may be two distinct concepts, and the subjective experience of the death as a trauma may be a more important factor that contributes to complicated grief and depressive symptoms.

Keywords

traumatic deathsubjective experiencecomplicated griefdepressionolder adultsHong Kong
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , March 2017 , pp. 409 - 417
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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