EARLY BEREAVEMENT IN THE FOUR MODES OF DEATH IN WHITES, BLACKS, AND HISPANICS

The purpose of this research was to study early bereavement across the four modes of death (natural, accident, suicide, and homicide) in White, Black, and Hispanic Americans. The respondents were surveyed regarding two time periods: (a) during the month before the death, as reported retrospectively, and (b) during the time since the death, as reported at the time of the study. Respondents were recruited from coroner\u27s records. They study consisted of two phases. In the first phase, bereaved respondents were administered a grief symptom questionnaire. The mean number of days from the death to the interview was 49.6. In the second phase, the same repondents were asked to complete questionnaires concerning: (a) social supports, (b) psychological symptoms, (c) health behaviors, (d) grief experience, and (e) background information. The respondents were provided envelopes with return postage to mail completed questionnaires. The mean number of days from the death to receipt of the questionnaires was 58. Two hundred and one respondents (175 females; 26 males) participated in Phase One. One hundred and forty seven respondents (129 females; 18 males) participated in Phase Two. Due to sex differences found, only the female sample was analyzed for mode of death and ethnic group comparisons. The results from mode of death comparisons suggest that homicide survivors, followed closely by accident survivors, may experience more intense bereavement than suicide or natural death survivors. This finding is particularly relevant because the former two groups have largely been ignored in the bereavement literature. The results from ethnic group comparisons suggest that there is no difference in intensity of bereavement. However, there appears to be a qualitative difference in the type of bereavement experienced between Hispanics, on one hand, and Whites and Blacks, on the other. The study provides a discussion of problems in conceptualization and measurement of grief and mourning and clinical implications of the findings