IS IT HELPFUL TO HELP OTHERS WHILE GRIEVING?

Abstract

Introduction: In the current study, we assessed self-reported and behavioral measures of support provided to others and examined their longitudinal relationship to grief and depression symptoms. Methods: Hierarchical regressions that controlled for initial grief symptoms and support received from others indicated that providing support to others during bereavement had negative effects on psychological functioning, especially for those experiencing high levels of grief at the time of giving. Results: Across all participants, those who reported providing instrumental support to others at T1 tended to have greater depression symptoms at T2. Furthermore, choosing to donate to bereavement organizations in a laboratory experiment predicted higher levels of grief symptoms at T2, but primarily for participants experiencing high levels of grief at T1. Conclusion: Additional research is needed to replicate and extend these findings. and determine why helping others during periods of transition and loss may increase one's risk for depression and/or grief.