title: Differences in bereavement reactions within couples following death of a child.
abstract: Differences in distress within couples who have experienced the sudden death of a child were examined. Results from two independent samples (N = 50 couples and N = 60 couples) were compared. The SCL-90-R and the BSI were used to measure global psychological distress and distress in nine symptom dimensions. Paired t tests revealed similar findings in the two samples: Within couples, women had significantly greater global distress than men and significantly greater distress than men in most symptom dimensions. Hostility scores within couples were similar and indicated a high level of hostility. The findings may explain relational problems observed within bereaved couples. Interventions designed to help couples cope with their differences and their hostility may decrease relational problems.
authors.affiliation: Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, PA, USA.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Moriarty
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotroneo
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001601:Bereavement; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003643:Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015143:Philadelphia; D011897:Random Allocation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013398:Sudden Infant Death; D013997:Time Factors