Nutritional considerations for bereavement and coping with grief.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes were 1) to examine the level of nutritional risk among recently bereaved individuals, with or without intervention for grief resolution, and those in coupled relationships and 2) to examine the dietary issues faced by the three groups.


METHODS
Twenty-two individuals from the above-mentioned categories were selected. Background information was elicited using a questionnaire. Focus group interviews and the Determine Checklist were used to assess dietary issues and nutritional risk, respectively.


RESULTS
Bereaved individuals, irrespective of whether they had counseling for grief resolution or not, had a moderate risk for poor nutrition (score >3). Although the level of risk was similar between the two bereaved groups, it was significantly different from those in coupled relationships, who had the lowest risk (1.43). Based on the interviews, the dietary issues included: 1) food acquisition, preparation and consumption; 2) difficult meals   place and time; 3) influence of social network/spouse; and 4) food and nutrition information. The food-related issues faced by bereaved individuals were similar, but substantially different from those in coupled relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that bereavement counseling does not serve as a gateway to reduced nutritional risk and highlights the need to address food issues in grief resolution interventions.
Johnson
C S
CS
School of Nutrition & Dietetics, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. shanthi.johnson@acadiau.ca
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003296:Cooking; D003376:Counseling; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors