Grief, Depressive Symptoms, and Physical Health Among Recently Bereaved Spouses

Utz, Rebecca L.; Caserta, Michael S.; Lund, Dale A.

doi:10.1093/geront/gnr110

Cited by 95 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The role of identity differences is increasingly recognized in contributing to the complexity of women's experiences of aging [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Researchers who have described how women experience aging differently than men contribute a rationale for examining older women's resilience and identify aspects of identity that shape older women's experiences with aging and adversity.…”

Section: Women's Aging and Identity Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Aging and Resilience: Older Women’s Responses to Change and Adversity

Gulbrandsen

Walsh

2015

Societies

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Abstract:The primary objective of the qualitative study was to describe women's resilience in older adulthood according to older women's interpretations of their experiences and the contexts of their lives. Intersectionality and critical feminist gerontology served as theoretical frameworks for examining, interpreting and highlighted the dynamic nature of intersecting identities and the interrelationships between identity and contextual factors. Constructivist grounded theory methodology was used to identify themes that represent older women's subjective interpretations of their experiences with adversity and to construct definitions of resilience based on their experiences. The aspects of identity that women in the study associated with their experiences of adversity and their resilience were age, physical and mental health, marital status and income. Women in the study emphasized how subjective interpretations influenced the meaning they associated with events, circumstances, or changes that accompanied aging and their understanding of the role of identities in those experiences.

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Section: Women's Aging and Identity Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Utz, Caserta, and Lund [23] noted that widowhood is associated with declines in women's physical and mental health. However, other researchers have emphasized older women's positive adjustment and resilience in responding to the loss of a spouse [24,25].…”

Section: Women's Aging and Identity Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aging and Resilience: Older Women’s Responses to Change and Adversity

Gulbrandsen

Walsh

2015

Societies

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“…Despite evidence that has suggested a link between CG and mental health symptoms (Utz et al, 2012), little research has been done examining grief therapy interventions with adults with co-occurring CG and mental illness. One study demonstrated that inpatient psychiatric therapy group for CG was effective in reducing grief symptoms in bereaved adults who had psychiatric illness, compared to those who did not receive any additional grief treatment (Rosner, Lumbeck, & Geissner, 2011).…”

Section: Grief Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Complicated grief (CG) is a condition of persistent symptoms of grief coupled with perseverating thoughts and feelings regarding the loss (Shear et al, 2011). In addition to the emotional suffering, individuals with CG are also at higher risk for physical illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and hypertension (Prigerson, Bierhals, Kasl, & Reynolds, 1997;Utz, Caserta, & Lund, 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Music Therapy as Grief Therapy for Adults With Mental Illness and Complicated Grief: A Pilot Study

Iliya

2015

Death Studies

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This randomized, controlled, mixed-methods pilot study examined the effectiveness and experiences of grief-specific music therapy, in addition to standard care, with adults (N=10) who have complicated grief (CG) and mental illness, as compared to standard care alone. The study tested Worden's (2009) theories of grief therapy as well as a new grief-specific music therapy intervention, based on Shear, Frank, Houck, and Reynolds' (2005) imaginal dialogue intervention and Austin's (2008) method of vocal psychotherapy. Results demonstrated that participants in the experimental group had a greater decrease of grief symptoms, as measured by the ICG-R, as compared with the control group.

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“…In addition to the emotional suffering, individuals with prolonged grief reactions are also at higher risk for physical illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and hypertension (Prigerson, Bierhals, Kasl, & Reynolds, 1997;Utz, Caserta, & Lund, 2012). Impairments such as lower quality of life, mental health issues, sleeping problems, and poor social functioning have also been found in numerous studies (Boelen & Prigerson, 2007;Ott, 2003;Prigerson et al, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Singing an imaginal dialogue: a qualitative examination of a bereavement intervention with creative arts therapists

Iliya

Harris

2015

Nordic Journal of Music Therapy

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The purpose of this qualitative research study was to understand creative arts therapists' experience of singing an imaginal dialogue with a deceased loved one. The sample consisted of nine female creative arts therapists with a minimum of three years of clinical experience. It included women who identified as minorities in the realms of race, culture, ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation. Participation entailed one music therapy session with a music therapist who was not the researcher. After the session, participants completed a questionnaire and were interviewed about their experience by the researcher. The qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis and five themes were identified: (a) elicitation of profound emotional expression; (b) discomfort, nervousness, and anxiety; (c) containment and support; (d) emotional and spiritual connection to the deceased; (e) helpful opportunity for grief resolution. The findings of this study support previous research on grief therapy and verbal imaginal dialogue and contribute to the field of creative arts therapies by deepening our understanding of the applications of singing an imaginal dialogue with a deceased person.

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Grief, Depressive Symptoms, and Physical Health Among Recently Bereaved Spouses

Cited by 95 publications

References 41 publications

Aging and Resilience: Older Women’s Responses to Change and Adversity

Aging and Resilience: Older Women’s Responses to Change and Adversity

Music Therapy as Grief Therapy for Adults With Mental Illness and Complicated Grief: A Pilot Study

Singing an imaginal dialogue: a qualitative examination of a bereavement intervention with creative arts therapists

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