Risk factors of prolonged grief after the loss of a loved one

The loss of a loved one is an extremely painful experience, but most individuals gradually adjust to life after the loss. However, some individuals have long-lasting difficulties, and the intensity of their grief reactions does not decrease over time. These prolonged and intense grief reactions were for the first time included in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as prolonged grief disorder. The aim of the dissertation was to evaluate the prolonged grief reactions after the loss of a loved one in the last 6-72 months and to identify the risk factors significantly associated with prolonged grief reactions. The study confirmed the one-dimensional structure of prolonged grief, and it was found that 17.1% of the study participants were at risk for prolonged grief disorder. The closeness with the lost loved one and the unexpectedness of the death were the strongest predictors of prolonged grief reactions. Prolonged grief reactions were also predicted by the bereaved person's higher neuroticism, emotion regulation difficulties, and avoidant attachment. Female gender and older age also significantly predicted prolonged grief reactions. Emotion regulation difficulties partly explained the relationship between risk factors neuroticism, avoidant attachment, anxious attachment, and the intensity of prolonged grief reactions. About half of those at risk for prolonged grief disorder also had a significant risk of depression. Circumstances of a loved one's death were significant predictors of prolonged grief but not depression