The profound sorrow following the death of a loved one can be fatal, according to new research that was recently published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health.
The study reveals a significant link between overwhelming grief and an increased risk of mortality over 10 years, CNN reported.
Researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark, led by postdoctoral researcher Mette Kjærgaard Nielsen, tracked the health outcomes of 1,735 bereaved relatives for over 10 years. They categorised participants into groups experiencing “low” and “high” levels of grief symptoms.
Over the decade-long study, a stark difference emerged as 26.5% of those with high grief symptoms died, compared to just 7.3% of those who were less powerfully affected.
“High levels” of grief were defined as experiencing more than half of the nine identified symptoms, including emotional numbness, feelings of meaninglessness, difficulty accepting the loss, and confusion over one’s identity.
Participants completed questionnaires at the study’s outset, then again six months and three years after their bereavement, providing a detailed picture of their emotional state.
