The unique impact of late-life bereavement and prolonged grief on diurnal cortisol

Authors

Jason M. Holland PhD, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Vincent Rozalski, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Kara L. Thompson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Roanne Joy Tiongson, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Alan F. Schatzberg, Stanford University
Ruth O'Hara, Stanford UniversityFollow
Dolores Gallagher-Thompson, Stanford University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Publication Title

Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Science

Volume

69B

Issue

1

First page number:

4

Last page number:

11

Abstract

Objectives. This study expands on previous research by examining the effects of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms and bereavement on diurnal cortisol patterns above and beyond depressive symptomatology.

Methods. Drawing on information from 56 depressed older adults, 3 groups were compared: (1) a depressed nonbereaved group, (2) a depressed bereaved without elevated PGD symptoms group, and (3) a depressed bereaved with elevated PGD symptoms group. Multilevel modeling was used to examine differences in diurnal cortisol profiles between these 3 groups, controlling for demographic factors and depressive symptoms.

Results. Results revealed that those who were bereaved had more dysregulated cortisol patterns, but PGD symptomatology seemed to have little effect. Subsidiary analysis with just the bereaved participants suggests that those who were recently widowed may have had greater cortisol dysregulation compared with other bereaved individuals in the sample.

Discussion. These findings suggest that the circumstance of being bereaved may be associated with more dysregulated cortisol, regardless of PGD symptomatology. This pattern of results might reflect greater disturbance in daily routines among bereaved individuals and acute stress in the case of those experiencing the recent loss of a spouse, which leads to disruption in circadian rhythms and the diurnal cycle of cortisol.

Keywords

Complicated grief; Biomarkers; Death and dying; Salivary cortisol; Widowhood

Disciplines

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychological Phenomena and Processes

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Holland, J. M., Rozalski, V., Thompson, K. L., Tiongson, R. J., Schatzberg, A. F., O'Hara, R., Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2014). The unique impact of late-life bereavement and prolonged grief on diurnal cortisol. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Science, 69B(1), 4-11.