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van Schaik T, Brouwer MA, Knibbe NE, Knibbe HJJ, Teunissen SCCM. The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Grief Experiences of Bereaved Relatives: An Overview Review. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2022:302228221143861. [PMID: 36453639 PMCID: PMC9720061 DOI: 10.1177/00302228221143861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted grief experiences of bereaved relatives and altered accustomed ways of coping with loss. To understand how bereaved relatives experienced grief during COVID-19, a review, using the overview method, was conducted. An overview of empirical data about this subject has been lacking and therefore, PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched for empirical studies published from January 1, 2020 until December 31, 2021. 28 articles were included in the review. Thematic analysis showed different emotional responses, changes in grief, the effect of absence during final moments, a lack of involvement in the caring process, the impact on communities and social support systems and the alteration of funerals among bereaved relatives. During COVID-19, death is characterized by poor bereavement outcomes and health implications, but bereaved also show signs of resilience and coping. Directions for future research about cultural and societal differences in grief and support methods are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara van Schaik
- Julius Center for Health Sciences
and Primary Care, University Medical Center
Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marije A. Brouwer
- Julius Center for Health Sciences
and Primary Care, University Medical Center
Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Saskia C. C. M. Teunissen
- Julius Center for Health Sciences
and Primary Care, University Medical Center
Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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2
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Sobczak K. The "CONNECT" Protocol: Delivering Bad News by Phone or Video Call. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:3567-3572. [PMID: 35392027 PMCID: PMC8979830 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s358723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the principles of communication within the health-care setting. Communication skills as developed for use in the context of a direct and personal encounter have become insufficient. As a result, numerous health professionals came to believe they were not sufficiently prepared to deliver bad news in relation to medical care. The CONNECT protocol is a tool designed to help health-care professionals in the delivery of such messages. The name of the protocol is an acronym derived from C - context, O - organization, NN - near and niceties, E - emotions, C - counseling, T - taking care. The objective of the protocol is to improve the effectiveness of the delivery of bad news in relation to medical care by ensuring proper organization of the key elements of the encounter with the patient and/or their family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Sobczak
- Department of Sociology Medicine and Social Pathology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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3
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Giménez-Llort L. 'You're Not Alone for China': The First Song in Times of COVID-19 to Keep the Faith in a World Crying in Silence. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:88. [PMID: 35447660 PMCID: PMC9026831 DOI: 10.3390/bs12040088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Collective mourning is an expression of societal maturity, cohesion, and respect. The world is in grief, but in early January 2020, before nobody could even imagine that SARS-CoV-2 would turn into the COVID-19 pandemic, a music video version of a pop ballad about love and isolation was spread across a Chinese social network. The song 'You Are Not Alone' was adapted as a cover by young foreigners living in China to express their support to bereaved families and frontline workers and encourage the people of China, their second home. At that time, the rest of the world looked to distant China but could hardly expect to face the same adversity months later. The authors reported that the music video was a spontaneous artistic expression copying such traumatic events and the mourning process. The present work analyses how the music was blended with lyrics and images describing the outbreak in Wuhan to reach their goal. The original song and this shortened version for China were compared regarding musical and lyric structures and main characteristics. Additionally, an analysis of the two videos was done regarding cinemetric variables and non-verbal communication that emphasized the power of songs to express deep sorrow and sympathy but also to give hope. Psychological first aid, the five stages of the mourning process by Kübler-Ross, the dual-process model by Stroebe and Schut, and Taylor's tend-to-befriend provided a better understanding of the translation from interpersonal to societal mourning. Finally, other memorable songs that society spontaneously chose to be performed alone or together to cope with sudden and dramatic situations, mitigate physical distancing, and alleviate human suffering are discussed. Music, lyrics, and artistic performance are playing a key role in building social and emotional ties during this pandemic, hampering individual and social pain and sorrow despite cultural barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Giménez-Llort
- Medical Psychology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; ; Tel.: +34-935812378
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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4
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Cipolletta S, Entilli L, Filisetti S. Uncertainty, shock and anger: Recent loss experiences of first‐wave
COVID
‐19 pandemic in Italy. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 32:983-997. [PMID: 35571876 PMCID: PMC9083240 DOI: 10.1002/casp.2604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore qualitatively bereavement experiences of family members who have lost a significant other to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in relation to mourners' needs and resources. Twenty individuals bereaved by the first wave of COVID‐19 from the most heavily impacted Italian region were interviewed via video call between 1 and 3 months after their loss. Through a thematic analysis, four main themes were identified: reconstructions of the loss experience, responses to grief, resources and looking forward. The suddenness of the death and lack of farewell by means of a funeral prevented participants from realizing the loss and undertaking a meaning‐making process. When anger was the main reaction to the loss, mourners focussed all their attention on denouncing medical and government institutions. Acceptance occurred particularly in those who found a way to share their grief and use it as a turning point. Participants relied mainly on informal support offered virtually, but mourners may have sought out in‐person comfort in the long term. The results of this study propose new insights for COVID‐19 bereavement support and trace the path for health promotion within a community shook by a communal grief experience. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorenza Entilli
- Department of General Psychology University of Padua Padua Italy
| | - Sara Filisetti
- Department of General Psychology University of Padua Padua Italy
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Hajebi A, Rasoulian M, Fathi M, Tiyuri A, Abbasinejad M, Naserbakht M, Asadi A, Khademoreza N. Randomized controlled trial for the efficacy of three versus five sessions of grief counseling on the psychological aspects following COVID-19 bereavement: A study protocol. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1047448. [PMID: 36545034 PMCID: PMC9760675 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1047448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have experienced traumatic losses and therefore are at risk of developing complicated grief regarding the restrictions on the performance of routine mourning rituals. This study is a randomized controlled trial for assessing the efficacy of three versus five sessions of grief counseling on grief intensity, psychological distress, and quality of life of grief among bereaved people due to COVID-19. METHODS A total of 120 bereaved people, due to COVID-19, will be enrolled in this multi-center randomized controlled trial after assessment for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following the informed consent procedure, participants will be allocated into two groups equally by the Stratified Balanced Block Randomization, one of them delivering a three-session grief counseling intervention and the other delivering a five-session grief counseling intervention. The intervention will be delivered by trained psychologists via in-person individual sessions. The primary outcome is grief intensity, and the secondary outcomes are psychological distress, quality of life, and satisfaction of the participants. These outcomes will be measured by the Grief Intensity Scale (GIS), the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), the Short Form Health Survey-12 (SF-12), and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8), respectively. The assessments will be done at three time points, one before the intervention and the others 1 month and 3 months after the intervention. The data will be analyzed using the SPSS V.18 and Stata V.11 software. The analysis approach will be "intention to treat." DISCUSSION Results of this study can be applied for selecting the most suitable intervention leading to the prevention of complicated grief and the maintenance and promotion of the mental health of bereaved people due to COVID-19. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION [irct.ir], identifier [IRCT20200505047305N1].
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Hajebi
- Research Center for Addiction & Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Rasoulian
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Fathi
- Health Deputy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Tiyuri
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Abbasinejad
- Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Naserbakht
- Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Asadi
- Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nooshin Khademoreza
- Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Mitima-Verloop HB, Mooren TTM, Kritikou ME, Boelen PA. Restricted Mourning: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Funeral Services, Grief Rituals, and Prolonged Grief Symptoms. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:878818. [PMID: 35711586 PMCID: PMC9195581 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.878818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has put various restrictions on grief rituals. Literature suggests that the restrictions on funerals and grief rituals may increase the chance of developing symptoms of prolonged grief (PG). In this study, we explored the possible impact of the pandemic on aspects of the funeral and grief rituals and examined their relationship with PG symptoms. METHOD Bereaved individuals from different countries, who lost a loved one in the year prior to the pandemic (n = 50) or during the pandemic (n = 182), filled in an online questionnaire, including a rating of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions, five aspects of the funeral service, five aspects of grief rituals, and a measurement for PG symptoms. RESULTS Participants bereaved during the pandemic rated the impact of the restrictions on the experience of the funeral and grief rituals as negative. Nevertheless, no differences were found in attendance and evaluation of the funeral and grief rituals for people bereaved prior to vs. during the pandemic. Attendance and evaluation of the funeral services were related to levels of PG symptoms, whereas the performance and helpfulness of grief rituals were not related to these symptoms. Although not related to PG symptoms, half of the participants used helpful alternative rituals to cope with their loss. DISCUSSION Our study suggests that bereaved people respond resiliently to the COVID-19 pandemic, for example by creating alternative rituals to cope with their loss. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of looking beyond symptom levels when studying the importance of funeral and grief rituals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huibertha B Mitima-Verloop
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, Netherlands
| | - Trudy T M Mooren
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, Netherlands
| | | | - Paul A Boelen
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, Netherlands
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Gazibara T, Ornstein KA, Gillezeau C, Aldridge M, Groenvold M, Nordentoft M, Thygesen LC. Bereavement Among Adult Siblings: An Examination of Health Services Utilization and Mental Health Outcomes. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:2571-2581. [PMID: 34343247 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to examine the association of young and middle-aged sibling bereavement with use of health services and risk of developing mental health disorders over 24 months before and after sibling's death. All persons aged 18-56 years who died of illness/natural causes between 2009 and 2016 were identified in the Danish Register of Causes of Death. The study sample included 31,842 bereaved siblings and 31,842 age- and sex-matched controls. Overall, the largest effect was observed for increased use of psychological services: For women, the peak was observed 4-6 months after the death (odds ratio (OR) = 3.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.85, 3.85) and for men in the first 3 months after the death (OR = 2.63, 95% CI: 2.06, 3.36). The peak of being diagnosed in a hospital setting with any mental disorder for women was observed in the period 13-15 months after sibling death (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.07) and for men in the first 3 months after the death (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.32). Young and middle-aged adults who experienced the death of a sibling are more likely to use health services and are at risk of poorer mental health outcomes. During the bereavement process, young and middle-aged siblings are especially in need of mental health support, such as professional psychological counseling.
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Guité-Verret A, Vachon M, Ummel D, Lessard E, Francoeur-Carron C. Expressing grief through metaphors: family caregivers' experience of care and grief during the Covid-19 pandemic. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2021; 16:1996872. [PMID: 34714218 PMCID: PMC8567898 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2021.1996872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted thousands of individuals’ experience of caregiving and grief. This qualitative study aimed to gain in-dept understanding of family caregivers’ lived experiences of caregiving and bereavement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, Canada. The study also aimed at providing new insight about caregiving and bereavement by analysing the metaphors family caregivers use to report their experiences. Methods: The design of this study was guided by an interpretative phenomenological approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty bereaved family caregivers who had lost a loved one during the first waves of the pandemic. Results: Results indicate that bereaved family caregivers lived and understood their experience in terms of metaphoric cut-offs, obstructions and shockwaves. These three metaphors represented the grief process and the bereaved’s quest for social connection, narrative coherence and recognition. Conclusion: By identifying the meaning of the bereaved’s metaphors and the quest they reveal, our study underlines the singularity of pandemic grief and points to the value and meaning of caregiving with regard to the grieving process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Guité-Verret
- Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Center for Research and Intervention on Suicide, Ethical Issues and End-of-Life Practices, Montreal, Canada.,Réseau Québécois de Recherche en Soins Palliatifs et de fin de vie (RQSPAL), Quebec, Canada
| | - Melanie Vachon
- Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Center for Research and Intervention on Suicide, Ethical Issues and End-of-Life Practices, Montreal, Canada.,Réseau Québécois de Recherche en Soins Palliatifs et de fin de vie (RQSPAL), Quebec, Canada
| | - Deborah Ummel
- Réseau Québécois de Recherche en Soins Palliatifs et de fin de vie (RQSPAL), Quebec, Canada.,Psychoeducation Department, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Canada
| | - Emilie Lessard
- University of Montreal Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Camille Francoeur-Carron
- Psychology Department, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Center for Research and Intervention on Suicide, Ethical Issues and End-of-Life Practices, Montreal, Canada.,Réseau Québécois de Recherche en Soins Palliatifs et de fin de vie (RQSPAL), Quebec, Canada
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