Predictors of Prolonged Grief Disorder in a German Representative Population Sample: Unexpectedness of Bereavement Contributes to Grief Severity and Prolonged Grief Disorder

• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.853698
• Publication Date: 2022-06-27T16:41:55Z
• Authors: Bettina K. Doering; Antonia Barke; Anna Vogel; Hannah Comtesse; Rita Rosner
• Keywords: Complicated Grief; Traumatic Grief

Most people adapt to bereavement over time. For a minority, the grief persists and may lead prolonged disorder (PGD). Identifying grievers at risk of PGD enable specific prevention measures. The present study examined extent which subjective unexpectedness death predicted outcomes above beyond known sociodemographic objective loss-related variables in sample drawn from population-representative investigation. In our ( n = 2,531), 811 participants (M age 55.1 ± 17.8 years, 59.2% women) had experienced loss significant person six or more months ago. Participants provided demographic information, perceptions completed Prolonged Grief Disorder-13 + 9 (PG-13 9). PG-13 was used determine caseness. A binary logistic regression investigated predictors caseness, linear severity. ANCOVAs compared symptoms between groups who an “expected” vs. “unexpected” loss, while controlling for relationship deceased time since loss. child (OR 23.66; 95%CI, 6.03–68.28), partner 5.32; 1.79–15.83), 0.99; 0.99–1.00) 3.58; 1.70–7.69) were caseness (Nagelkerke’s R 2 0.25) as unexpected (vs. expected) reported higher scores on all symptoms. Unexpectedness emerged factor PGD, even after other variables. While findings replicate previous research importance they also highlight assessing help identify can profit preventive interventions.