Health Behaviors of Funeral Directors in the US: A Needs Assessment

Abstract

Objectives: Little is known about the health-risk behaviors of funeral directors. We undertook a study to examine their health behavior risks by assessing perceived health behaviors. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional, descriptive study of a sample of funeral directors in the US as of September 2018. We used online survey software to disseminate a multi-wave survey to funeral directors. Results: Overall, we received 132 completed surveys (16.5% response rate). Overall, funeral directors rated themselves as healthy, but 61% reported that their mental health was not good in the previous 30 days due to stress, depression, or problems with emotions. We found that 23% reported that their poor physical or mental health keep them from doing their daily activities such as self-care, work, or recreation in the last 30 days. Other behaviors such as screenings, weight management, stress management, and substance use were found to be concerns in this population. Conclusions: Public health efforts should focus on health promotion programming with an emphasis on improving the overall health and well-being of funeral directors in the US.

Funeral and Mortuary Operators: The Role of Stigma, Incivility, Work Meaningfulness and Work–Family Relation to Explain Occupational Burnout

“…This approach therefore has also practical implications since it can focus not only on job-related risk prevention strategies but also on which significant resources it is possible to invest and promote. Moreover, although the existing research previously identified psychosocial risks in the funeral and mortuary sector [ 5 , 8 , 15 , 16 , 72 ], there is a lack of studies that systematically evaluate both the most relevant job demands and resources and their relationship with the onset of the two core dimensions of burnout, which are emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Among other occupations, a wide array of literature has to date evidenced both health-related and organizational consequences of burnout, e.g., [ 74 , 75 ], that in the funeral context may specifically affect the quality of the service provided and the onset of behaviors that pose a risk to health.…”

“…Indeed, being exhausted and with cynical attitudes towards one’s work may have deleterious effects on the quality of relationships with bereaved clients, lessening empathy and fostering counterproductive work behavior. Furthermore, poor mental health related to burnout may keep those workers from healthy behaviors and being more engaged in unhealthy habits such as alcohol consumption, substance use and poor weight management [ 15 ] by also limiting the possibility of maintaining adequate levels of work ability [ 1 ].…”

“…Among the few studies that have been interested in assessing the quality of working life of this peculiar working population, only a small number have assessed how the psychosocial factors of the funeral context can specifically impact burnout levels [ 8 ]. This is surprising since, among other mental health issues such as depression, death anxiety and post- and secondary-traumatic stress disorder that have been more extensively analyzed [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], funeral and mortuary workers, due to their work environment, are more likely to suffer from compassion fatigue and burnout [ 15 , 16 , 17 ], which in turn may leave to deleterious consequences for their health-related behaviors and impaired work ability [ 1 , 15 ]. This would be in line with the abovementioned health and care professions, which have in common these suffering dynamics in their daily working life.…”

Challenges and Opportunities of Providing Pediatric Funeral Services: A National Survey of Funeral Professionals

“…15 Emotional intelligence training is a set of practical skills that help individuals become fluent in understanding their own and others' emotions and support their mental health. 5 Emotional intelligence training might be tailored to the unique environment of the funeral professional providing pediatric funerals.…”

“…The bereavement experiences associated with the loss of a child deeply impact funeral home staff, and can create either a deeply negative or positive experience for families. 3,4 Although several studies have focused on funeral professionals and adult services, [5][6][7][8] an emerging literature suggests that funeral professionals might have a significant role in providing services to families upon the death of a child. Michaelson and Lund examined the role and found that the characteristics of funeral professionals include service, commitment, genuine care, compassion, ability to communicate and listen, confidentiality, conscientiousness, honesty, physical strength, supporting families, and restorative art.…”