Patterns of Change in Mental Health Status During the First Two Years of Spousal Bereavement

Abstract

Patterns of change in mental health were identified for 118 recently widowed participants using the Integra Outpatient Tracking Assessment, Mental Health Index. Change was measured 4 times over the first 2 years of bereavement using a cohort sequential design. It was hypothesized that application of the psychotherapy phase model would have some use in understanding the various ways in which people grieve. The overall pattern of change in mental health was similar to that of the psychotherapy dosage and psychotherapy phase models and indicated a dramatic change in overall mental health, well-being, and symptoms during the beginning phases of bereavement followed by a plateau. At 24 months after the death, participants had not attained the same level of mental health as the general population. Within limitations of the design and sample, 2 conclusions were reached: (a) the overall pattern of change in bereavement was similar to that of distressed patients receiving outpatient mental health services, and (b) the patterns of change for individuals vary, making it important to consider clinical characteristics that might account for individual differences. These findings help establish an empirical model of grief that has use for clinical interventions.

Late-life Widowhood and Meaning in Life

“…The findings confirmed some of the hypotheses and partially confirmed others. The study was conducted in Israel, and the findings are congruent with results found in similar studies on the outcomes of widowhood, that were performed in other countries (Carnelley et al 1999;Diamond et al 1987;Morgan et al 1997;Nieboer et al 1998Nieboer et al -1999Ott and Lueger 2002;Pinquart 2002;Stewart et al 2001;Turvey et al 1999). This indicates the universality of the loss of a sense of meaning in life among the widowed.…”

“…Similar to other psychological processes of change, a mourning process is needed for adjustment and change (Hegge and Fischer 2000;Lopata 1996;Ott and Lueger 2002;Rondo 1992Rondo -1993Sable 1991;Shuchter and Zisook 1993). Several studies on spousal loss in later life refer to the mourning process as one of growth rather than a return to former functioning (Fry 1998;Howie 1992Howie -1993van den Hoonaard 1997;Yalom and Liberman 1991).…”

“…Most of the research dealing with the differences between the newly widowed and the long-term widowed refer to a period of 2 years as critical for such a transition (Carnelley et al 1999;Diamond et al 1987;Morgan et al 1997;Nieboer et al 1998Nieboer et al -1999Ott and Lueger 2002;Stewart et al 2001;Turvey et al 1999;Ziv-Beiman 1993). Less than 2 years since the loss of a spouse is considered new widowhood, more than 2 years as long-term widowhood.…”

What has become of grief counseling? An evaluation of the empirical foundations of the new pessimism.

“…These findings are now treated as established scientific fact and have been widely cited in major professional journals, including American Psychologist (Bonanno, 2004), Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Bonanno, Moskowitz, Papa, & Folkman, 2005;Bonanno, Wortman, et al, 2002), Psychiatric Annals (Reissman, Klomp, Kent, & Pfefferbaum, 2004), Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (Harkness, Shear, Frank, & Silberman, 2002), Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior (Jordan & McMenamy, 2004), Applied and Preventative Psychology (Bonanno, Papa, & O'Neill, 2002), and Death Studies (Jordan & Neimeyer, 2003;Ott & Lueger, 2002;Sikkema, Hansen, Kochman, Tate, & Difranciesco, 2004;Wolf & Jordan, 2000). The findings were also reported in great detail in both the Handbook of Bereavement Research: Consequences, Coping, and Care (Stroebe, Hansson, Stroebe, & Schut, 2001) and the CFAH (2003) Report on Bereavement and Grief Research.…”

Views of Old Age and Death Held by Working-age Men and Women and Their Relationship to Health-related Behavior

“…Many men would be distraught and become severely depressed if their wives would die suddenly, leaving them alone, and subsequently their health would suffer. [15][16][17] People also should prepare themselves for the eventual death of their spouses, close relatives and dear friends in order to prevent deterioration of their own health resulting from the death of dear persons. Men were anxious about their circumstances of daily life such as cooking, cleaning and washing.…”