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Objective: Existential isolation refers to an individual's awareness of the unbridgeable gulf between oneself, other people and the world. This kind of isolation has been found to be higher in individuals with nonnormative experiences, such as racial or sexual minorities. Bereaved individuals may experience a stronger sense of existential isolation and feel that no one shares their feelings or perceptions. However, research on bereaved people's experiences of existential isolation and its effects on post-loss adaptation is scarce. This study aims to validate the German and Chinese versions of the Existential Isolation Scale, investigate cultural and gender differences in existential isolation and explore the associations between existential isolation and prolonged grief symptoms in German-speaking and Chinese bereaved individuals., Methods: A cross-sectional study with 267 Chinese and 158 German-speaking bereaved participants was conducted. The participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing existential isolation, prolonged grief symptoms, social networks, loneliness and social acknowledgement., Results: The results indicated that the German and Chinese versions of the Existential Isolation Scale demonstrated adequate validity and reliability. No cultural or gender differences (or their interaction) were found for existential isolation. Higher existential isolation was associated with elevated prolonged grief symptoms, which was further moderated by the cultural group. The relationship between existential isolation and prolonged grief symptoms was significant for the German-speaking bereaved people but not significant for those from China., Conclusion: The findings highlight the role of existential isolation in the adaptation to bereavement and how different cultural backgrounds moderate the effect of existential isolation on post-loss reactions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Social acknowledgment is a protective factor for survivors of trauma. However, the role of social acknowledgment in association with prolonged grief symptoms has not yet been established. Objectives: The current study aims to explore the relationship between social acknowledgment and prolonged grief via two beliefs foundational to how people think about grief-related emotions (1) goodness (i.e. whether emotions are desirable, useful, or unwanted and harmful), and (2) controllability (i.e. whether emotions are regulated according to our will or involuntary, arising of their own accord). These effects were explored in two different cultural samples of bereaved people. Methods: One hundred and fifty-four German-speaking and two hundred and sixty-two Chinese bereaved people who lost their loved ones completed questionnaires assessing social acknowledgment, beliefs about the goodness and controllability of grief-related emotions, and prolonged grief symptoms. Results: Correlation analyses showed that social acknowledgment was positively linked with stronger beliefs about the goodness and controllability of grief-related emotions and negatively related to prolonged grief symptoms. Beliefs about the goodness and controllability of grief-related emotions correlated negatively with prolonged grief symptoms. Multiple mediation analyses suggested that beliefs about the controllability and goodness of grief-related emotions mediated the link between social acknowledgment and prolonged grief symptoms. Cultural groups did not moderate the above model. Conclusion: Social acknowledgment may be related to bereavement adjustment consequences via the roles of beliefs about the goodness and controllability of grief-related emotions. These effects seem to be consistent cross-culturally.

Background: Cognitive behavioural correlates to bereavement-related mental health problems such a Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are of theoretical and clinical importance., Methods: Individuals bereaved at least six months (N = 647) completed measures of loss-related cognitions and behaviours (i.e., loss-related memory characteristics, negative appraisals, coping strategies, grief resilience, and perceived social disconnection) and measures of PGD and PTSD symptoms. Individuals were assigned to one of four groups depending on probable clinical diagnoses (No-PGD/PTSD, PTSD, PGD, PGD+PTSD)., Results: Results indicated that higher loss-related memory characteristics and lower grief resilience increased the likelihood of a clinical problem. The PGD and PGD+PTSD groups reported significantly higher loss-related memory characteristics and appraisals compared to the PTSD group. Social disconnection increased the likelihood of comorbid PGD+PTSD in comparison to any other group., Conclusions: Results indicate cognitive differences between loss-related cognitions, memory characteristics and coping strategies between PGD and PTSD, and points to distinct cognitive correlates to psychopathology following loss., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: The identification of modifiable cognitive antecedents of trajectories of grief is of clinical and theoretical interest., Method: The study gathered 3-wave data on 275 bereaved adults in the first 12-18 months postloss (T1 = 0-6 months, T2 = 6-12 months, T3 = 12-18 months). Participants completed measures of grief severity, cognitive factors (loss-related memory characteristics, negative appraisals, unhelpful coping strategies, and grief resilience), as well as measures of interpersonal individual differences (attachment and dependency). Latent growth mixture modeling was used to identify classes of grief trajectories. Predictors of class membership were identified using multinomial logistic regression and multigroup structural equation modeling., Results: Four latent classes were identified: 3 high grief classes (Stable, Low Adaptation, and High Adaptation) and a low grief class (Low Grief). When considered separately, variance in all four cognitive factors predicted membership of the high grief classes. When considered together, membership of the high grief classes was predicted by higher mean scores on memory characteristics. More negative appraisals predicted low or no adaptation from high grief severity. Losing a child also predicted membership to the stable class. Fast adaptation of high grief was predicted by a pattern of high memory characteristics but low engagement with unhelpful coping strategies., Conclusions: The findings have implications for clinical practice and point to early cognitive predictors of adaptation patterns in grief. Findings are consistent with cognitive models highlighting the importance of characteristics of memory, negative appraisals, and unhelpful coping strategies in the adaptation to highly negative life events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Background: Psychological models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) make predictions about the role of unhelpful coping strategies in maintaining difficulties by blocking self-correction of negative appraisals and memory integration following stressful life events like bereavement. However, few studies have tested these predictions directly. Method: We used counterfactually based causal mediation to assess whether unhelpful coping strategies mediated the relationship between (1) loss-related memory characteristics and/or (2) negative grief-related appraisals and symptoms of PGD, PTSD and depression using a three-wave longitudinal sample (N = 275). Appraisals and memory characteristics were measured at time point 1, unhelpful coping strategies at T2, and symptom variables at T3. Additionally, multiple mediation analyses within a structural equation modelling (SEM) framework assessed which types of coping strategies differentially mediated symptoms of PGD, PTSD and depression. Results: Coping strategies mediated the relationship between negative appraisals and memory characteristics and symptoms of PGD, PTSD and depression after adjusting for demographics and loss characteristics. Sensitivity analyses suggested that these results were most robust for PGD, followed by PTSD and then depression. Multiple mediation analyses suggested that all four subscales (avoidance, proximity seeking, loss rumination and injustice rumination) individually mediated the effect of memory characteristics and appraisals on PGD. Conclusions: These results suggest that core predictions of the cognitive model for PTSD and the cognitive behavioural model of PGD are useful in predicting symptoms of post-loss mental health problems in the first 12–18 months after loss. Targeting unhelpful coping strategies is likely to reduce symptoms of PGD, PTSD and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a mass bereavement event which has profoundly disrupted grief experiences. Understanding support needs and access to support among people bereaved at this time is crucial to ensuring appropriate bereavement support infrastructure. Aim: To investigate grief experiences, support needs and use of formal and informal bereavement support among people bereaved during the pandemic. Design: Baseline results from a longitudinal survey. Support needs and experiences of accessing support are reported using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of free-text data. Setting/participants: 711 adults bereaved in the UK between March and December 2020, recruited via media, social media, national associations and community/charitable organisations. Results: High-level needs for emotional support were identified. Most participants had not sought support from bereavement services (59%, n = 422) or their General-Practitioner (60%, n = 428). Of participants who had sought such support, over half experienced difficulties accessing bereavement services (56%, n = 149)/General-Practitioner support (52%, n = 135). About 51% reported high/severe vulnerability in grief; among these, 74% were not accessing bereavement or mental-health services. Barriers included limited availability, lack of appropriate support, discomfort asking for help and not knowing how to access services. About 39% (n = 279) experienced difficulties getting support from family/friends, including relational challenges, little face-to-face contact and disrupted collective mourning. The perceived uniqueness of pandemic bereavement and wider societal strains exacerbated their isolation. Conclusions: People bereaved during the pandemic have high levels of support needs alongside difficulties accessing support. We recommend increased provision and tailoring of bereavement services, improved information on support options and social/educational initiatives to bolster informal support and ameliorate isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aimed to explore the content and features of loss-related memories in a sample of individuals bereaved by cancer with and without a probable diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder/persistent complex bereavement disorder (PGD/PCBD). Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 28 bereaved adults (PGD/PCBD = 12, NoPGD/PCBD = 16) were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes were identified: (1) intrusive imagery, (2) qualities of memory, and (3) triggers. Results showed that individuals suffering from probable PGD/PCBD reported a predominance of negative and upsetting memories, happy memories triggering pain and more negative intrusive imagery than those without PGD/PCBD. Conclusions: Bereavement by cancer can result in troubling intrusive memories that overshadow positive memories. Sufferers of PGD/PCBD are more likely to experience loss-related memories as negative and upsetting. Clinical approaches that utilise memory processing may be of particular relevance in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effectiveness of a novel cancer bereavement group. Twenty-seven participants attended a six-session cancer bereavement therapeutic group. Data were collected at baseline, intervention completion, and three-month follow-up. Grief intensity and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety were reduced postintervention, and self-compassion increased. At follow-up, improvement remained for grief, PTSD, and depression. A small quasi-experimental waiting-list comparison group showed no change on any measure between baseline and waiting-list end. This study provides preliminary evidence that a brief therapeutic group is an effective intervention for cancer bereavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bereavement can be considered a potentially traumatic experience, and concerns have been raised about conducting grief research responsibly online. Objective: Given that online research introduces new methodological opportunities and challenges, we aimed to develop a greater understanding of how bereaved individuals experience participation in online research. Method: One day after participation in an online grief study, 876 participants, bereaved on average for 40 months, received a 'check-in' email to support well-being and offer further contact if needed. Although not explicitly asked to respond if no help was needed, 300 participants sent email replies, with only six requesting support. These responses were analysed qualitatively using content analysis. Results: Results suggested that participants found it acceptable to be asked about their grief and while difficult emotions were frequently described in response to the questionnaires, these reactions were temporary. A range of positive reactions was also reported, including new realizations arising from completing the research and changes in thinking related to grief. Participants also wrote about their appreciation for the study and how it was carried out, as well as a desire to contribute more to the study and to help others in a similar position. Conclusions: We suggest that the use of the check-in email to support well-being following study completion, along with advice on preparing to take part, contributed to positive experiences of participation and we recommend these strategies for future studies. These findings could allay clinical concerns about conducting online research with vulnerable populations, as well as raising questions about the possible therapeutic impact of measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]