New Study on Grief
In a recent article published in the Feb. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association researchers from Yale University School of Medicine are questioning some beliefs about what has been felt to be the normal stages of grief.
They found that after the loss of a family member from natural causes, grief indicators typically peak in the first six months, and contrary to the stage theory of grief, disbelief was not the dominant emotion in the family members who continued to score high on grief indicators.
Paul K. Maciejewski, Ph.D., of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and colleagues conducted a longitudinal study of 233 bereaved individuals who were assessed for indications of the five conventionally accepted stages of grief (disbelief, yearning, anger, depression and acceptance) in the two years after a loss.
The study found that the initial, dominant grief item was not disbelief, but yearning, which peaked at four months after the loss, compared to one month after the loss for disbelief. Anger and depression peaked at five and six months post-loss, respectively. The final stage, acceptance, increased steadily over the 24-month follow-up period.
They did conclude that regardless of how the data are analyzed, all of the negative grief indicators are in decline by approximately six months post-loss. They felt that persistence of these negative emotions beyond six months is likely a reflection of a more difficult than average adjustment and suggests the need for further evaluation.
Since the study looked at “natural causes” of death, these results may have been skewed or biased. Taking all causes of death, may have resulted in the more common grief stages. Further studies will probably be performed.
They found that after the loss of a family member from natural causes, grief indicators typically peak in the first six months, and contrary to the stage theory of grief, disbelief was not the dominant emotion in the family members who continued to score high on grief indicators.
Paul K. Maciejewski, Ph.D., of Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and colleagues conducted a longitudinal study of 233 bereaved individuals who were assessed for indications of the five conventionally accepted stages of grief (disbelief, yearning, anger, depression and acceptance) in the two years after a loss.
The study found that the initial, dominant grief item was not disbelief, but yearning, which peaked at four months after the loss, compared to one month after the loss for disbelief. Anger and depression peaked at five and six months post-loss, respectively. The final stage, acceptance, increased steadily over the 24-month follow-up period.
They did conclude that regardless of how the data are analyzed, all of the negative grief indicators are in decline by approximately six months post-loss. They felt that persistence of these negative emotions beyond six months is likely a reflection of a more difficult than average adjustment and suggests the need for further evaluation.
Since the study looked at “natural causes” of death, these results may have been skewed or biased. Taking all causes of death, may have resulted in the more common grief stages. Further studies will probably be performed.
posted by Anonymous at 6:10 AM
2 Comments:
The Tribune Headline on May 15, 2007. NA-FC school board cuts 19 jobs. Superintendent said it’s the last thing he wants to do, but when the corporation is spending more money than it is takings in something has to be done. Cuts are needed to fill the gap between overall spending and anticipated funding from the government.
It is time for you and your friends to launch a character assignation against the superintendent. I bet there are principals who would tell you, and only you, that maybe it’s time for him to leave. Look at the mess he has made of one of the largest organizations in town.
He remodeled some outdated facilities and even built a new one. Shame on him. I’ll bet that some of the teachers, when asked would tell you, and only you, that they are over worked and underpaid.
Go after him. I’ll bet that some teachers will resign and possibly go to other school systems. It has to be a problem at the top. Everyone needs to be recognized daily for a job well done. No one has conflicts at home that might spill over to their work environment. Their jobs define them and their life. If they are miserable it is because of their work environment and their bosses.
The teachers will begin retiring in mass. Ignore the demographics, it must be a management problem. Some of those who retire, might retire angry, lonely and exhausted. Maybe they should come to you for council. It couldn’t be a nation wide problem. It has to be a Floyd County problem. What about the elected school board. Maybe you and your friends can blame them and their predecessors. No one is as smart as you and yours.
Replacing old facilities, finding qualified workers to replace an aging workforce, expensive technology and limited government resources, can’t be the problem. It has to be a leadership problem. You better check to see if he plays golf. I’ll bet he only works 60 to 80 hours a week for our community. That can’t be enough to meet your high standards.
He deserves to be under your microscope, unless he doesn’t meet your height requirement. You should analyze his every move. Lurk behind the school corporation scene and planting doubts about his abilities every chance you get. Maybe you can start a blog. NAEDU.blogspot.com. You can use all of the same arguments and same confidential sources who know it all or don’t always exist.
Hey it sounds like you know a lot about lurking...someone lurked at me yesterday. You don't happen to own a disguise, do you?
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