Table 2 Sociodemographic variables, stressful life events, and grief experiences by mode of partner’s death
Full sample | Cause of partner’s death | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(N = 27) | Suicide (N = 15) | PAD (N = 12) | ||||||
N | % | N | % | N | % | χ2 (df = 1) | ||
Gender | ||||||||
Female | 13 | 48.1 | 10 | 66.7 | 3 | 25.0 | 4.64 | * |
Male | 14 | 51.9 | 5 | 33.3 | 9 | 75.0 | ||
Higher education1 | 17 | 63.0 | 14 | 93.3 | 3 | 25.0 | 13.35 | *** |
Children2 | 20 | 74.1 | 12 | 80.0 | 8 | 66.7 | 0.62 | |
Filed a complaint3 | 2 | 7.4 | 2 | 13.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 1.73 | |
Present during the partner’s death4 | 15 | 55.6 | 3 | 20.0 | 12 | 100.0 | 17.28 | *** |
Violent partner’s death5 | 8 | 29.6 | 8 | 53.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 9.10 | ** |
Stressful life events after partner’s death | ||||||||
Experienced illness, injury | 1 | 3.7 | 1 | 6.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.83 | |
Family member ill, injured | 6 | 22.2 | 5 | 33.3 | 1 | 8.3 | 2.41 | |
Parent, child or sibling died | 4 | 14.8 | 4 | 26.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 3.76 | |
Friend or other family member died | 2 | 7.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 16.7 | 2.70 | |
Breakup of relationship | 8 | 29.6 | 8 | 53.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 9.09 | ** |
Relationship problem | 8 | 29.6 | 6 | 40.0 | 2 | 16.7 | 1.74 | |
Job loss or inability to find a job | 2 | 7.4 | 1 | 6.7 | 1 | 8.3 | 0.03 | |
Fired | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | - | |
Financial problem | 1 | 3.7 | 1 | 6.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.83 | |
Contact with the law | 1 | 3.7 | 1 | 6.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.83 | |
Theft or loss of valuables | 2 | 7.4 | 1 | 6.7 | 1 | 8.3 | 0.03 | |
M | SD | M | SD | M | SD | t (df = 25) | ||
Age | 61.02 | 13.11 | 54.27 | 11.45 | 69.46 | 9.99 | -3.62 | ** |
Years since death | 2.63 | 2.52 | 3.52 | 2.81 | 1.51 | 1.59 | 2.21 | * |
Age partner | 58.15 | 14.61 | 49.83 | 11.03 | 68.56 | 11.71 | -4.27 | *** |
Duration of relationship | 30.00 | 18.22 | 21.20 | 14.81 | 42.04 | 15.58 | -3.55 | ** |
Number of stressful life events | 1.30 | 1.20 | 1.87 | 1.25 | 0.58 | 0.67 | 3.21 | * |
Grief Experience Questionnaire | ||||||||
Somatic reactions | 9.04 | 3.95 | 10.67 | 3.77 | 7.00 | 3.25 | 2.67 | * |
Search for explanation | 11.35 | 3.93 | 12.85 | 3.27 | 9.48 | 4.01 | 2.41 | * |
Loss of support | 10.17 | 4.38 | 12.43 | 4.07 | 7.33 | 2.93 | 3.65 | ** |
Stigmatization | 9.63 | 4.82 | 11.93 | 5.20 | 6.75 | 2.05 | 3.25 | ** |
Guilt | 9.87 | 4.07 | 11.20 | 4.44 | 8.21 | 2.93 | 2.00 | |
Responsibility | 7.72 | 3.53 | 9.20 | 4.05 | 5.88 | 1.38 | 2.71 | * |
Shame | 8.04 | 3.55 | 9.40 | 3.79 | 6.33 | 2.39 | 2.44 | * |
Rejection | 9.05 | 4.32 | 10.68 | 4.59 | 7.00 | 3.02 | 2.39 | * |