Unresolved grief in a national sample of bereaved parents: impaired mental and physical health 4 to 9 years later.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess unresolved parental grief, the associated long-term impact on mental and physical health, and health service use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This anonymous, mail-in questionnaire study was performed as a population-based investigation in Sweden between August 2001 and October 2001. Four hundred forty-nine parents who lost a child as a result of cancer 4 to 9 years earlier completed the survey (response rate, 80%). One hundred ninety-one (43%) of the bereaved parents were fathers, and 251 (56%) were mothers. Bereaved parents were asked whether or not, and to what extent, they had worked through their grief. They were also asked about their physical and psychological well-being. For outcomes of interest, we report relative risk (RR) with 95% CIs as well as unadjusted odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Parents with unresolved grief reported significantly worsening psychological health (fathers: RR, 3.6; 95% CI, 2.0 to 6.4; mothers: RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.9 to 4.4) and physical health (fathers: RR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.8 to 4.4; mothers: RR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6 to 3.3) compared with those who had worked through their grief. Fathers with unresolved grief also displayed a significantly higher risk of sleep difficulties (RR, 6.7; 95% CI, 2.5 to 17.8). Mothers, however, reported increased visits with physicians during the previous 5 years (RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.6) as well as a greater likelihood of taking sick leave when they had not worked through their grief (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.5). CONCLUSION: Parents who have not worked through their grief are at increased risk of long-term mental and physical morbidity, increased health service use, and increased sick leave.

Author information

Author/s: Lannen, Patrizia K (PK); Wolfe, Joanne (J); Prigerson, Holly G (HG); Onelov, Erik (E); Kreicbergs, Ulrika C (UC);

Affiliation: Phyllis F. Cantor Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. plannen(-atsign-)ispm.unibe.ch

Grants: 5 K07 CA096746 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (J Clin Oncol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Dec; vol 26 (issue 36) : pp 5870-6

Dates: Created 2008/12/19; Completed 2009/01/13; Revised 2009/04/09;

PMID: 19029425, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 4/10/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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