Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru
Objective: Funeral practices have undergone significant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the death of a family member from this disease has altered the typical course of the bereavement process. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the relationship between the levels of grief, anxiety...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-04-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241245069 |
| _version_ | 1797205706716217344 |
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| author | Jeel Moya-Salazar Elizabeth Soto Betsy Cañari Eliane A Goicochea Nahomi Zuñiga Alexis Jaime-Quispe Hans Contreras-Pulache |
| author_facet | Jeel Moya-Salazar Elizabeth Soto Betsy Cañari Eliane A Goicochea Nahomi Zuñiga Alexis Jaime-Quispe Hans Contreras-Pulache |
| author_sort | Jeel Moya-Salazar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Funeral practices have undergone significant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the death of a family member from this disease has altered the typical course of the bereavement process. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the relationship between the levels of grief, anxiety, and depression in relatives of patients who died from COVID-19 in Peru. Methods: A total of 250 volunteers were obtained, but after applying the inclusion criteria and not being able to contact five of them, the sample consisted of 115 participants over 18 years of age who lost a family member to COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021. They developed the Prolonged Grief Questionnaire-13 and the Zung Anxiety and Depression Questionnaires, in virtual surveys using Google FormTM (Google, CA). Results: Our analysis revealed that all cases of anxiety (18.3%) were present in individuals experiencing prolonged grief (76.5%), while 49.5% (57/115) of participants exhibited symptoms of depression. Furthermore, we identified a significant association between prolonged grief and both anxiety ( p = 0.005) and depression ( p < 0.001). Prolonged grief predominantly affected females (45.2%) and individuals aged 31–40 years (28.7%) ( p < 0.001). Regarding predictors of anxiety symptoms, we found that both age group ( p = 0.035) and grief ( p < 0.001) played significant roles. Gender ( p = 0.019) and grief ( p < 0.001) emerged as predictors of depression, while gender alone predicted grief in relatives of individuals who succumbed to COVID-19 ( p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our results suggest a clear association between prolonged grief and mental health issues among relatives of COVID-19 patients who have passed away. Consequently, it is imperative to provide comprehensive psychological and spiritual support throughout the grieving process, aiming to mitigate the negative impact of traumatic events. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:55:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6a00c168873446d8ad9af9f0137e64a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3121 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:55:23Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-6a00c168873446d8ad9af9f0137e64a32024-04-16T08:03:54ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medicine2050-31212024-04-011210.1177/20503121241245069Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in PeruJeel Moya-Salazar0Elizabeth Soto1Betsy Cañari2Eliane A Goicochea3Nahomi Zuñiga4Alexis Jaime-Quispe5Hans Contreras-Pulache6Digital Transformation Center, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima, PeruFaculties of Health Science, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima, PeruQualitative Unit, Nesh Hubbs, Lima, PeruFaculties of Health Science, Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Lima, PeruQualitative Unit, Nesh Hubbs, Lima, PeruQualitative Unit, Nesh Hubbs, Lima, PeruDigital Transformation Center, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima, PeruObjective: Funeral practices have undergone significant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the death of a family member from this disease has altered the typical course of the bereavement process. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the relationship between the levels of grief, anxiety, and depression in relatives of patients who died from COVID-19 in Peru. Methods: A total of 250 volunteers were obtained, but after applying the inclusion criteria and not being able to contact five of them, the sample consisted of 115 participants over 18 years of age who lost a family member to COVID-19 between 2020 and 2021. They developed the Prolonged Grief Questionnaire-13 and the Zung Anxiety and Depression Questionnaires, in virtual surveys using Google FormTM (Google, CA). Results: Our analysis revealed that all cases of anxiety (18.3%) were present in individuals experiencing prolonged grief (76.5%), while 49.5% (57/115) of participants exhibited symptoms of depression. Furthermore, we identified a significant association between prolonged grief and both anxiety ( p = 0.005) and depression ( p < 0.001). Prolonged grief predominantly affected females (45.2%) and individuals aged 31–40 years (28.7%) ( p < 0.001). Regarding predictors of anxiety symptoms, we found that both age group ( p = 0.035) and grief ( p < 0.001) played significant roles. Gender ( p = 0.019) and grief ( p < 0.001) emerged as predictors of depression, while gender alone predicted grief in relatives of individuals who succumbed to COVID-19 ( p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our results suggest a clear association between prolonged grief and mental health issues among relatives of COVID-19 patients who have passed away. Consequently, it is imperative to provide comprehensive psychological and spiritual support throughout the grieving process, aiming to mitigate the negative impact of traumatic events.https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241245069 |
| spellingShingle | Jeel Moya-Salazar Elizabeth Soto Betsy Cañari Eliane A Goicochea Nahomi Zuñiga Alexis Jaime-Quispe Hans Contreras-Pulache Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru SAGE Open Medicine |
| title | Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru |
| title_full | Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru |
| title_fullStr | Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru |
| title_short | Prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to COVID-19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms: A survey-based study in Peru |
| title_sort | prolonged grief in relatives of deceased patients due to covid 19 is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms a survey based study in peru |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121241245069 |
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