Am J Psychiatry 1996; 153:659-666
Copyright © 1996 by American Psychiatric Association
The Melbourne Family Grief Study, II: Psychosocial morbidity and grief in bereaved families
DW Kissane, S Bloch, P Onghena, DP McKenzie, RD Snyder and DL Dowe
Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Australia.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the intensity of grief,
the psychosocial morbidity, and the coping patterns in members of families
classified according to a typology of family functioning comprising
supportive, conflict-resolving, intermediate, sullen, and hostile classes.
METHOD: One hundred fifteen families were assessed longitudinally 6 weeks
(time 1), 6 months (time 2), and 13 months (time 3) after the death of a
parent (constituting 670 individual responses) on measures of grief
intensity, psychological state, social adjustment, and family coping. A
previously described typology of perceptions of family functioning was
applied. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance based on both
individuals and families and post hoc comparisons of significant results
were undertaken. RESULTS: Sullen families displayed the most intense grief
and the most severe psychosocial morbidity. Well-functioning families
(supportive and conflict-resolving) resolved their grief and adjusted more
adaptively than their dysfunctional counterparts (intermediate, sullen, and
hostile families). There were no cluster-by-time interactions. The clusters
accounted for 15.7% of the variance in depression (Beck Depression
Inventory) and 27.9% of the variance in social functioning (Social
Adjustment Scale). Well-functioning families used more family coping
strategies (Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales).
CONCLUSIONS: More intense grief and greater psychosocial morbidity are
found in sullen, hostile, and intermediate bereaved families than in the
more adaptive supportive and conflict-resolving types. At-risk families are
identifiable and could be treated preventively to reduce morbidity.
