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Family caregiver grief and post-loss adjustment: A longitudinal cohort study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2021

Alexandra Coelho Open the ORCID record for Alexandra Coelho [Opens in a new window] ,
Magda Roberto ,
Luísa Barros  and
António Barbosa
Alexandra Coelho*
Affiliation:
Clínica Universitária de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal
Magda Roberto
Affiliation:
CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Luísa Barros
Affiliation:
CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
António Barbosa
Affiliation:
Clínica Universitária de Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal
*
Author for correspondence: Alexandra Coelho, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz s/n, 1649-035 Lisboa, Portugal. E-mail: alexandra.moura.coelho@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

In order to better understand the different grieving trajectories of the family caregivers (FCs), this study aims to examine the evolution of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms and the predictive role of the caregiving-related factors in the FCs' grieving trajectory from pre- to post-death.

Method

A prospective cohort study was carried out with advanced cancer FCs evaluated before death (T1) and 6–12 months post-loss (T2).

Results

Participants in T1 (n = 156) were mostly female, adult child, or spouse of the care recipient, with a mean age of 51.78 (SD = 13.29). At T2, 87 FCs participated in the survey. PGD prevalence was higher pre-death (38.6%) than in bereavement (33.7%). Of those who met the PGD criteria before death, most also met these criteria after death (n = 26, 61.9%). Psychological distress and caregiver burden were highly correlated with pre-death grief, which in turn played a critical role in mediating the link between psychological distress and bereavement outcome. Great emotional closeness in the relationship was predictive of PGD symptoms persistence. In contrast, the long-term consequences of caregiver burden were not confirmed.

Significance of results

This study provides evidence for the diversity of individual FC responses and the complex pattern of interactions between caregiving-related factors, relationship quality, and PGD symptoms evolution from pre- to post-death.

Keywords

Family caregiversPalliative carePredictorsProlonged grief disorderProspective study
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , June 2022 , pp. 348 - 356
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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