Grief processes of elderly bereaved surviving spouses and the impact of support systems

1995 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 06672333
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Nursing
• Research Institution: JIKEI UNIVERSITY
• Principal Investigator: TERASAKI Akemi JIKEI UNIVERSITY,SCHOOL OF NURSING,Professor, 医学部, 教授 (50163910)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KOHARA Izumi JIKEI UNIVERSITY,SCHOOL OF NURSING,Assistant, 医学部, 助手 (80266642) ; MASE Yuki JIKEI UNIVERSITY,SCHOOL OF NURSING,Assistant, 医学部, 助手 (60256451) ; HAYASI Youichi SHIRAYURI COLLEGE,SCHOOL OF LITERATURE,Professor, 文学部, 教授 (20145650)
• Project Period (FY): 1994 – 1995
• Keywords: Older adults / Bereavement / Grief process / Coping / Social support

Research Abstract

A survery was conducted on elderly bereaved surviving spouses using a questionnaire which was orginally developed, to investigate their grief and coping behavior and the impact of support systems. The results were quantitatively analyzed by statistical test packages. Fifty-five spouses [10 males, and 45 females] participated in the survey, and their mean age was 70.8 years. The time which had passed after bereavement was 5 to 34 months, and 28 lived alone. Sixteen these bereaved spouses were also interviewed, and the results of the interviews were qualitatively analyzed.
Quantitative analysis showed the following results. (1) On the whole, there was no marked tendency to depression in the surviving spouses. (2) Analysis of each factor of grief showed that grief after bereavement tended to be resolved over time. (3) The overwhelming majority depended on adult children. (4) Depression scores were lower, and grief was better relieved, in people who lived with families than in those who lived alone.
Qualitative analysis showed the following modes of coping in surviving spouses after bereavement ; (1) finding different viewpoints, (2) changing their outlook, and making a new start, (3) continued relationship with the deceased, (4) acceptance, (5) change of mood, (6) expression of emotion, (7) finding their own way of living, and ((8) avoiding situations which might arouse painful sentiments.
IN summary, elderly bereaved surviving spouses tried to overcome their grief by various coping strategies, and they tended to recover with time. However, daily and continuous financial and psychological support from their children and other people seemed to be helpful in speeding up their recovery, suggesting the importance of social support.