Spousal Loss: Depression, Anxiety and Well-Being after Grief Periods of Varying Lengths

Abstract

AbstractA total of 59 bereaved elderly persons and 20 married elderly persons were asked to complete a series of questionnaires on depression, anxiety and well-being. The bereaved elderly persons were divided into three groups based on the length of time elapsed since the death of the spouse. The results showed that bereaved subjects were more depressed and anxious and that their well-being was generally inferior to their married counterparts; further, their emotional reactions persisted after many months of mourning and finally some of the bereaved seemed more at risk than others. These issues should be examined more thoroughly using longitudinal studies.