A systematic review of loneliness in bereavement: Current research and future directions

Anneke Vedder; Kathrin Boerner; Jeffrey E Stokes; Henk A W Schut; Paul A Boelen; Margaret S Stroebe

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.06.003

A systematic review of loneliness in bereavement: Current research and future directions

Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Feb;43:48-64. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.06.003. Epub 2021 Jun 19.

Authors

Anneke Vedder¹, Kathrin Boerner², Jeffrey E Stokes², Henk A W Schut³, Paul A Boelen⁴, Margaret S Stroebe⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: A.Vedder@uu.nl.
² Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, the Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology & Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.

PMID: 34293651
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.06.003

Abstract

Bereaved people suffer from loneliness and loneliness is associated with poor mental health. In this study, this topic is reviewed. An agenda is suggested for future research. Research that is theory-driven, addresses measurement consistency, correlates of loneliness in bereaved and non-bereaved, and treatment is necessary for prevention and intervention.

Keywords: Bereavement; COVID-19; Complicated grief; Grief; Loneliness; Persistent complex bereavement disorder; Prolonged grief disorder; Social isolation.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Bereavement*
Grief
Humans
Loneliness*