Abstract
Context
Bereaved family members sometimes experience distress due to stressful life events.
However, the effects of this distress on depression and grief remain unclear.
Objectives
To clarify the degree of distress due to postbereavement stressful life events, its
associated factors, especially social isolation, and its effects on major depressive
disorder (MDD) and complicated grief (CG) risks among bereaved family members of patients
with cancer.
Methods
This cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 2018 as part of the J-HOPE4
study. We recruited 1740 bereaved family members of patients with cancer who died
from July to August of 2018. We assessed distress due to postbereavement stressful
life events with the Bereavement Secondary Stressor Scale, social isolation with the
Lubben Social Network Scale Short-Form, and the MDD and CG risk with the Patient Health
Questionnaire-9 and Brief Grief Questionnaire, respectively.
Results
Among the 913 (52.5%) respondents, 88%, 57%, 46%, 28%, and 19% experienced distress
due to incidental tasks, daily life difficulties, financial problems, problems with
other people, and deterioration of family relationships, respectively. More distress
was associated with higher risks of MDD (odds ratio [OR] = 2.5, P < 0.01) and CG (OR = 2.5, P < 0.01). Social isolation and specific backgrounds were associated with more distress
in response to stressful life events.
Conclusion
Most family members experienced distress due to stressful life events, which were
risk factors for MDD and CG. Assessing risk factors for maladaptation to post-bereavement
life changes and enhancing readiness to adapt to them is important.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 27, 2022
Accepted:
December 17,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
