title: [The link between positive-negative appraisals of prebereavement and mental health after spousal loss].
abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the link between the cognitive appraisals of prebereavement and mental health after spousal loss. One hundred and twenty widow(er)s answered questionnaires concerning appraisals of prebereavement (Scale for Appraisals of Prebereavement: SAP) and mental health (General Health Questionnaire Japanese version, 28 items version: GHQ-28). As a result of factor analysis with promax rotation, it was revealed that SAP had four main factors: "Human relationship with the deceased," "Life of the deceased," "End of the deceased," and "Hospital staff and care." Age of the subjects showed positive correlations with both "Total appraisal of prebereavement" and "Life of the decreased." It was shown that the SAP as a whole had very little relationship with each subscales of GHQ-28. The psychiatrically high-risk widow(er)s have more positive appraisals on both "Total appraisal of prebereavement" and "Life of the deceased." The implications of these findings for family care and bereavement care were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871.
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001601:Bereavement; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology*