Prolonged Grief Symptoms Predict Social and Emotional Loneliness and Depression Symptoms

A minority of bereaved individuals develops severe, persistent, and disabling grief, termed prolonged grief. The International Classification of Diseases eleventh edition (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) include such grief reactions as prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Loneliness is often experienced by bereaved persons and can have severe health consequences. Preliminary research suggests that loneliness may perpetuate grief, but prolonged grief may also aggravate loneliness. Since existing empirical research provides limited information on temporal relationships between both constructs, we aimed to fill this gap in knowledge. Bereaved adults (88% female, mean age 54 years) filled in questionnaires assessing general, social, and emotional loneliness and prolonged grief and depression symptoms across two time-points, six months apart. Cross-lagged panel model analyses showed that prolonged grief symptoms predicted more severe general, social, and emotional loneliness as well as more depression symptoms. Loneliness did not predict prolonged grief symptoms or depression symptoms. Depression symptoms did not predict prolonged grief symptoms or loneliness. Findings are inconsistent with the notion that loneliness causes prolonged grief and depression. Possibly, severe grief could lead to stigmatization, reduced social support, and feeling socially disconnected, perpetuating loneliness and depression symptoms.