Prevalence of grief symptoms and disorders in the time of COVID‐19 pandemic: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

AbstractMillions of people worldwide are mourning the loss of loved ones due to the COVID‐19 epidemic, which may adversely impact their mental health. This meta‐analysis aimed to investigate pandemic grief symptoms and disorders for developing policy, practice, and research priorities. The databases of Cochrane, Embase, Ovid‐MEDLINE, WHO COVID‐19, NCBI SARS‐CoV‐2, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Science Direct were comprehensively searched until July 31, 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute's and Hoy's criteria were used to evaluate the studies. A pooled prevalence was presented in a forest plot figure with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) and prediction interval. Between‐study heterogeneity was measured using the I2 and Q statistics. Variations in the prevalence estimates in different subgroups were examined by moderator meta‐analysis. The search identified 3677 citations, of which 15 studies involving 9289 participants were included in the meta‐analysis. The pooled prevalence rate of grief symptoms was 45.1% (95%CI: 32.6%–57.5%), and grief disorder was 46.4% (95%CI: 37.4%–55.5%). Grief symptoms were significantly higher in <6 months (45.8%; 95%CI: 26.3%–65.3%) compared to the period of more than 6 months. Unfortunately, moderator analyses for grief disorders could not be performed due to limited studies. The prevalence of grief problems during the pandemic was substantially higher than in non‐pandemic conditions; therefore, it is crucial to strengthen bereavement support to reduce psychological distress. The results provide a foundation for nurses and healthcare workers to anticipate a heightened need for support and provision of bereavement care in the post‐pandemic era.