Psychological functioning of recently bereaved, middle-aged women: the first 13 months.
This study examined the natural course of psychological functioning in recently bereaved middle-aged women. 69 widows were assessed four times (T1-T4) between the period of 4 to 13 mo. after the loss and were compared to a matched nonwidowed group of 57. Of the SCL-90 feelings of depression, agoraphobic behavior, anxiety, hostility, somatization, feelings of insufficiency, and sleep disorders were heightened at 4 mo. after bereavement compared to the norm group. Significantly higher psychological dysfunctioning was found on all SCL-90 subscales than for non-widows. Over time, a decrease in psychological dysfunction was found for most widows; however, not every widow appeared to recover psychologically, and 17% of the widows showed severe psychological dysfunctioning at 13 mo. postbereavement (T4). With respect to the predictive value of the Total score on the SCL-90, at 13 mo., 27% of these widows had scores indicating severe psychological dysfunctioning; these were comparable to their scores at 4 mo. postbereavement.
Beem
E E
EE
Helen Dowling Institute, Utrecht Leiden University, The Netherlands. ebeem@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Maes
S
S
Cleiren
M
M
Schut
H A
HA
Garssen
B
B
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology*