Psychosocial Health Outcomes for Family Caregivers Following the First Year of Bereavement

Psychosocial Health Outcomes for Family Caregivers Following the First Year of Bereavement

Masterson MP; Hurley KE; Zaider T; Corner G; Schuler T; Kissane DW

Death Studies

2015

Bereavement; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Caregivers/ Psychology; Depression/epidemiology/etiology; Health Status; Humans; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychological Tests; Psychology; Social Adjustment; Spouses/psychology; Stress Psychological/epidemiology; Stress Psychological/etiology; Time Factors; Young Adult

The authors examined psychosocial outcomes following the first year of bereavement, for 51 family caregivers, including both spouses and offspring. Researchers assessed caregivers during palliative care and again during the second year of bereavement, for social functioning, depression, and distress. For all family caregivers, only depression scores declined significantly between T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). Caregiver relationship and gender did not make a difference in recovery. Results demonstrate that poor psychosocial health outcomes exist beyond the first year of bereavement. Early identification of these caregivers is necessary to provide mental health professionals the opportunity to intervene proactively.

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August 2017 List