ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe social media online grief supports, accessing behaviors, psychosocial variables, and feelings of support among individuals grieving the loss of a child aged <18 years. METHOD: This online survey study recruited 26 adults grieving the loss of a child using social media. Dependent variables included feelings of support and frequency of access. Independent variables included sleep disturbance, cognitive function, depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy to manage emotions (SEMA). Data were collected from May to September 2018. RESULTS: Participants' T scores were higher in level of sleep disturbance (mean = 59.4, SD = 6.1), depression (mean = 62.1, SD = 6.1), and anxiety (mean = 62.8, SD = 7.9), and lower in cognitive function (mean = 37.4, SD = 7.3) and SEMA (mean = 39.3, SD = 5.7). SEMA showed a positive correlation with feeling emotionally supported (p = 0.034). Participants who were accessing online grief supports more frequently reported higher levels of emotional support (F = 9.31, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Current findings will help guide the design of online grief support interventions for individuals grieving the loss of a child. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].
ABSTRACT
Grieving individuals experience changes in cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that are associated with a decline in cognitive function in grieving adults. Questionnaires for sleep, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy to manage emotions, and cognitive function were completed. 69% of the grieving adults (N = 134) reported a decline in cognitive function. Anxiety and self-efficacy to manage emotions were associated cognitive function abilities (RMSE = 6.32, AdjRSQ = .32, AIC = 486.12). Bereavement programs may want to consider adding existing interventions, to improve anxiety and self-efficacy to manage emotions.
