Grief Experience After Deaths: Comparison of Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 Causes

Abstract

The grief caused by loved ones’ death causes grief is a global phenomenon. The Covid-19 pandemic caused significant changes in human lifestyles and the experience of grief. The purpose of the present study was to compare grief experiences in the deceased's relatives caused by Covid-19 and non-Covid-19. Seventy-five first- and second-degree relatives of the deceased infected with Covid-19 (n = 33) and non-Covid-19 (n = 42) in a Gorgan hospital in northern Iran were included cross-sectional study using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the GEQ-34 grief experience questionnaire and demographic variables and questions related to funeral and burial. The results revealed that the deceased's burial quality caused by the Covid-19 group was significantly lower (p = 0.035). However, the feeling of the Covid-19 label is significantly higher (p <0.001). There was no significant variation in grief's broad experience between the two groups (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, the experience of grief was significantly different in the group of relatives of the deceased infected by Covid-19 in terms of notoriety (P = 0.040) and physical reactions (p = 0.002). Educational interventions to reduce stigma and discrimination due to death caused by Covid-19 and clinical and psychological support of relatives of the deceased due to Covid-19 are recommended by compiling appropriate messages from different channels.

Factors Associated With Higher Levels of Grief and Support Needs Among People Bereaved During the Pandemic: Results from a National Online Survey

“…There is a growing relevant evidence base, primarily from studies conducted in China (Tang & Xiang, 2021;Tang, Yu, Chen, Fan, & Eisma, 2021) and North America Breen, Mancini, Lee, Pappalardo, & Neimeyer, 2021;Downar et al, 2022;, however findings to date are inconsistent. In particular, there is a lack of consensus on whether bereavement due to COVID-19 deaths is associated with worse outcomes than deaths due to other causes during the pandemic (Breen, Mancini, et al, 2021;Downar et al, 2022;Gang, Falzarano, She, Winoker, & Prigerson, 2022;Shahini et al, 2022); whether and how the context of the death, including physical presence before or at the time of death, is associated with bereavement outcomes (Downar et al, 2022;; and whether and how demographic characteristics such as relationship with the deceased relate to bereavement outcomes (Downar et al, 2022;Tang & Xiang, 2021). There has also been little examination of factors associated with bereaved people's self-reported needs for support.…”

Effect of Online Balint Group and Pharmacotherapy on COVID-19 Anxiety in Iranian Healthcare Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Anxiety is a common psychological complication among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic (20)(21)(22). However, a limited number of studies have considered the treatments and coping strategies to reduce this complication.…”