Abstract:
Background: Due to its high death toll and measures to curb the pandemic, COVID-19 has affected grieving experiences and may contribute to risk factors for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). Persons at risk for PGD often seek support from grief counselling.Objective: To explore whether pandemic-associated risk factors have become more important topics in counselling in a mixed-method design.Method: German grief counsellors (n = 93) rated whether pre-defined risk factors had become more important in grief counselling and indicated additional important themes in an open format.Results: The counsellors indicated that all pre-defined risk factors had become more important, though differing significantly in their frequency. Most frequently endorsed risk factors were lack of social support, limited possibilities to accompany a dying loved one and absence of traditional grief rituals. Qualitative analysis identified three additional themes: the societal impact of the pandemic, its impact on bereavement support and health care, and a chance for personal growth.Conclusions: The pandemic has affected bereavement experiences and grief counselling. Counsellors should monitor grief processes and specific risk factors to provide the best possible care for bereaved people when needed.
Pandemic-associated risk factors for PGD have become more important topics in grief counselling during COVID-19.Risk factors include especially a lack of social support, limited possibility to accompany a dying significant other and absence of traditional grief rituals.Future research is needed to investigate whether monitoring and addressing these risk factors can improve bereavement care.
摘要:
背景:由于其死亡人数高和遏制大流行的措施,COVID-19影响了悲伤的经历,并可能导致长期悲伤障碍(PGD)的危险因素。有PGD风险的人经常寻求悲伤咨询的支持。目的:探讨在混合方法设计中,与大流行相关的危险因素是否已成为咨询中更重要的主题。方法:德国悲伤顾问(n=93)评估了预定义的危险因素在悲伤咨询中是否变得越来越重要,并以开放的形式指出了其他重要主题。结果:辅导员指出,所有预先定义的危险因素都变得更加重要,尽管它们的频率差异很大。最常见的风险因素是缺乏社会支持,陪伴垂死的亲人的可能性有限,没有传统的悲伤仪式。定性分析确定了三个额外的主题:大流行的社会影响,它对丧亲支持和医疗保健的影响,和个人成长的机会。结论:大流行影响了丧亲经历和悲伤咨询。辅导员应监测悲伤过程和特定的风险因素,以便在需要时为失去亲人的人提供最佳护理。
在COVID-19期间,PGD的大流行相关危险因素已成为悲伤咨询中更重要的话题。风险因素尤其包括缺乏社会支持,陪伴垂死的重要其他人的可能性有限,并且没有传统的悲伤仪式。未来的研究需要调查监测和解决这些风险因素是否可以改善丧亲护理。