Intensely grieving a loved one could shorten a mourner’s life

Effect of Prolonged Grief on Mortality Rates

Research suggests that individuals who experience long periods of intense grief following the death of a loved one may have a higher risk of mortality within the next decade compared to those who cope with their loss more effectively.

Past studies have linked bereavement to negative health outcomes, such as increased blood pressure, but most of these studies only followed the bereaved individuals for a few years post-loss.

A recent study conducted by Mette Kjærgaard Nielsen and colleagues from Aarhus University in Denmark aimed to explore the relationship between grief and mortality over a ten-year period.

The researchers collected data from a national registry of individuals receiving treatment for terminal conditions and enlisted over 1700 of their loved ones, such as parents or partners, to participate in surveys before the individual’s death, as well as six months and three years post-loss. The surveys assessed the level of grief experienced by the loved ones, including behaviors like avoidance of reminders of the deceased.

Results showed that some individuals exhibited persistent low levels of grief, while others experienced persistent high levels of grief. The high-grief group had an 88% higher death rate compared to the low-grief group when their medical records were analyzed a decade after the loss.

Andreas Maercker from the University of Zurich notes that prolonged, intense grief can have physical implications on the body, potentially leading to premature death. Lifestyle changes, such as poor diet and inactivity, may also contribute to this increased mortality risk among the bereaved.

While only 17% of the participants had a pre-existing medical condition at the beginning of the study, those in the high-grief group were more likely to have such conditions. Nielsen suggests that these pre-existing health issues could partially explain the higher mortality rates in this group. Maercker also points out the possibility of poor health intensifying feelings of grief.

The findings emphasize the importance of providing additional support to individuals experiencing prolonged and severe grief, as it could potentially save lives by mitigating the adverse effects of grief on physical health.