Determinants of Outcome following Bereavement

Sixty-eight widows and widowers were interviewed shortly after bereavement and again a year later. Factors which at the early interviews predicted poor outcome included “low socio-economic status,” “short terminal illness with little warning of impending death,” “multiple life crises (particularly those involving disturbance of marital relationship) and reactions to bereavement of severe distress, yearning, anger or self-reproach.”