Predictors of Complicated Grief After a Natural Disaster: A Population Study Two Years After the 2004 South-East Asian Tsunami

Abstract

The authors examined predictors of complicated grief (CG) in Norwegians 2 years after bereavement in the 2004 South-East Asian tsunami. A cross-sectional postal survey retrospectively covering disaster experiences and assessing CG according to the Inventory of Complicated Grief yielded 130 respondents (35 directly disaster-exposed and 95 not directly exposed), with 47.7% screening CG positive. They identified positive associations between CG and being female, losing a child or spouse, and time to death confirmation, and negative associations with previous losses, being employed, and receiving social support. Direct exposure did not increase CG risk. Support service providers should be aware of this high prevalence of severe, persistent grief.

Social support and psychological well-being as possible predictors of complicated grief in a cross-section of people in mourning. [Apoyo social y bienestar psicológico como posibles predictores de estado de duelo complicado en poblac de personas en duelo]

“…It would be a question to clarify in the future for two reasons. First, because there are at least two independent studies that had the opposite result: a heightened state of CG was associated with lower perceived SS (Kristensen et al, 2010;Ott, 2003.). Second, in light of grief counseling, the overall score of the bereaved may be helped be better by knowing the real SS that they count on or if they rate it higher as a consequence of associated depressive symptomatology Taking all of these results into account, and especially the relationship found between SS and CG, the first step in the evidence for the damping effect that SS would have on CG (Stroebe et al, 2005) could be: at first they are expressions of pain which increase social support and later on, social support influences the lowering of CG.…”

“…Somhlaba & Wait, 2008;Stroebe et al, 2005), cause of death (Burke et al, 2010;. Kristensen, Weisaeth & Heir, 2010;Weder, García-Nieto & Canneti-Nisim, 2010) and symptoms present (Somhlaba & Wait, 2008;Vanderwerker & Prigerson, 2003), which have generated a wide variability in results and conclusions.…”

“…In addition, depression was associated with the anticipation of negative SS. In this regard, two independent studies have linked a higher state of grief to a lower perception of SS (Kristensen et al, 2010;Ott, 2003).…”

The Role of Religious Leaders in the Restoration of Hope Following Natural Disasters

“…Thus, before and after the funerals, the main roles of clergy are counseling, reducing PTSD symptoms, and maintaining hope. Grief support is key in reducing PTSD symptoms (Kristensen, Weisaeth, & Heir, 2010;Lensing, 2001;Salloum & Overstreet, 2008). Lensing (2001) mentioned the need for grief counseling, specifically mentioning aftercare, which "includes a wide range of services from referrals to local grief counselors to facilitating bereavement support groups" (p. 45).…”

O suporte social durante a transição familiar no pós-desastre natural

“…This is, however, a considerable challenge to the health services, the social network and services provided by religious entities, taking into account that meeting these needs involves a balance of collective and individual approaches in the long-term following the disaster. 14 The narratives constructed by the families emphasize the data schematically illustrated in the eco-maps. The help received, principally in the first months after the disaster, was identified as fundamental for the survival of the members and for meeting basic needs, such as mattresses, for lying and sleeping on, basic utensils and potable water for preparing and consuming food, among others, as well as for adapting in the light of the losses and the initial difficulties.…”