Co-occurrence of approach and avoidance in prolonged grief: a latent class analysis

Maarten C. Eisma*, Lonneke Lenferink

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
117 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) has been included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Loss-related avoidance behavior perpetuates grief and effective interventions for prolonged grief symptoms target such avoidance behavior. Yet, behaviors characterized by approach of loss-related cues (i.e. rumination, yearning, proximity seeking) are also implicated in prolonged grief reactions. Objective: To solve this paradox, we will test the Approach Avoidance Processing Hypothesis, which holds that loss-related approach and avoidance behaviors co-occur in PGD, using latent class analyses (LCA).Methods: Two-hundred eighty-eight bereaved adults (92% female) completed questionnaires assessing loss-related approach behaviors (rumination, yearning, proximity seeking), loss-related avoidance behaviors (anxious avoidance, experiential avoidance) and ICD-11 andDSM-5-TR prolonged grief symptoms. Results: LCA demonstrated the best fit for a three-class solution comprising a low approach/low avoidance class (n= 98, 34%), a high approach/low avoidance class (n= 79, 27%), and a high approach/high avoidance class (n= 111, 39%). The latter class showed significantly higher prolonged grief symptom levels and higher odds of probable PGD compared to the other classes. Conclusions: Co-occurrence of loss-related approach and avoidance appears characteristic to prolonged grief reactions. Distinguishing bereaved people with these behavioral patterns from those solely experiencing loss-related approach behaviors may improve the efficacy of PGD therapies.
Original languageEnglish
Article number2190544
JournalEuropean Journal of psychotraumatology
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2023

Keywords

  • prolonged grief
  • complicated grief
  • avoidance
  • rumination
  • yearning
  • continuing bonds

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