(PS14-44) Relationship with Deceased Predicts Grief and Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Presentation Following Loss

Sunday, November 17, 2024

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST

Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown

Author(s)

LK

Layla Kratovic, B.S.

Graduate Research Assistant
University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Co-Author(s)

BP

Brianna J. Preiser, M.A.

Graduate Student
University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
EM

Evanne Moux, B.A.

Graduate Student
University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
DD

Danielle Dgheim, M.A.

Doctoral Student
University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
AP

Anthony Papa, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Abstract Text: Symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGS) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTS) are commonly co occurring responses to bereavement associated with distress, functional impairment, and lower quality of life. Identifying salient risk factors for bereavement outcomes marked by elevated PGS and PTS has become of recent interest in the field, particularly regarding the relationship with the deceased. While recent studies suggest that experiencing an “unnatural loss,” such as the loss of a child or partner, is associated with increased symptoms, further examination of this type of loss is needed. The aim of this study was to identify PGS and PTS classes and associations with class membership in a sample of 781 bereaved adults (56.5% female, Mage = 39.4 years) who recently experienced a loss. It was hypothesized that individuals who experienced the loss of a child or partner would be more likely to have membership in higher symptom classes than those who experienced the loss of a parent. A latent class analysis with type of loss as a covariate was conducted using data collected from a panel survey, in which participants completed a battery of questionnaires via Amazon Mechanical Turk. A five class solution yielded the best fit, which consisted of a resilient class (32%), a high symptom class (17%), a moderate symptom class (20%), a predominantly PGS class (20%), and a predominantly PTS class (11%). Experiencing the loss of a child or partner, as opposed to the loss of a parent, was associated with increased probability of membership in the predominantly grief class (β = 1.32, p < 0.05; β = 1.69, p < 0.01), moderate symptom class (β = 1.4, p < 0.05; β = 2.43, p < 0.01), and high symptom class (β = 1.75, p < 0.01; β = 2.5, p < 0.01), when compared to the resilient class. Knowledge about the heterogeneity of presentations following loss and how the relationship with the deceased may impact symptom presentation is essential for developing and refining effective bereavement-related interventions. Clinical recommendations include assessing for the relationship with the deceased among individuals who are experiencing bereavement and tailoring intervention to those who experience an unnatural loss. Future longitudinal research on loss-related characteristics, PGS, PTS, and other mental health outcomes would provide information about the symptom trajectories following an unnatural loss and inform the timing and targets of interventions following bereavement.