University of Twente Student Theses
Prolonged Grief Disorder in Bereaved Adults : The Role of Cause of Death and Time Since Loss
Pepegova, Elvira (2025) Prolonged Grief Disorder in Bereaved Adults : The Role of Cause of Death and Time Since Loss.
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| Abstract: | Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a proposed diagnostic category that distinguishes itself from normal grief by its intensity and persistent impact on daily functioning. It is characterized by prolonged distress and a fixation on the deceased, with risk factors such as cause of death and time since loss being increasingly explored. This study aimed to investigate the influence of cause of death (natural vs. non-natural) and time since loss on grief responses in bereaved adults. A sample of 56 Dutch-speaking adults who experienced the loss of a loved one completed the TGI-SR+, a validated 22-item grief scale. Regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between cause of death, time since loss, and grief responses. Independent and multiple linear regressions revealed that neither cause of death nor time since loss significantly predicted grief responses, whether analyzed separately or together. However, gender emerged as a significant predictor, with females reporting higher grief responses than males. This study highlights the complexity and individualized nature of grief, showing that it is influenced by multiple factors rather than singular variables like cause of death or time since loss. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs to better understand grief progression and develop targeted interventions for individuals at risk of PGD.Dutch-speaking adults (N = 56) who experienced the loss of a loved one participated in this study. Participants completed the TGI-SR+, a validated 22-item grief scale, used to assess grief. A combination of regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between cause of death, time since loss and grief reactions in bereaved individuals. Independent and multiple linear regression analyses showed that neither cause of death nor time since loss significantly grief responses, whether analyzed separately or together in the same model. However, gender was found to be a significant predictor, with females reporting higher grief responses than male participants. This study highlights the complexity and individualized nature of grief responses, emphasizing that grief is influenced by multiple factors rather than singular variables as cause of death and time since loss. These findings emphasize the importance of considering demographic and contextual variables, such as gender, in grief research. Future studies should adopt longitudinal designs to capture the progression of grief over time to develop targeted interventions for those vulnerable to developing PGD. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/104943 |
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