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Bakelants H, Van Droogenbroeck F, Chambaere K, Vanderstichelen S, De Donder L, Deliens L, De Gieter S, De Moortel D, Cohen J, Dury S. A compassionate university for serious illness, death, and bereavement: Qualitative study of student and staff experiences and support needs. DEATH STUDIES 2024; 48:442-453. [PMID: 37432448 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2023.2233495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Serious illness, death, and bereavement are common experiences within the work and study context. This study aims to explore the experiences and support needs of university students and staff confronted with serious illness, death, and bereavement. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 21 students and 26 staff. A thematic analysis resulted in three overarching themes: the university as a high-pressure environment; navigating the complex university information and support system; and disenfranchized grief. Four themes were identified in terms of what participants needed from the university: clear processes and procedures; flexibility in policy application; proactive support and recognition; and activities to enhance awareness and interpersonal communication skills. Findings from this study could enable higher education institutions to become more compassionate schools and workplaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Bakelants
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Droogenbroeck
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Data Analytics Lab & Tempus Omnia Revelat, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kenneth Chambaere
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Vanderstichelen
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth De Donder
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luc Deliens
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sara De Gieter
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Work and Organizational Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Deborah De Moortel
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Interface Demography, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joachim Cohen
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Dury
- Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Johnsen I, Mikkelsen JS, Opheim AA, Gjestad R. To lose a friend: the relationship between professional help and grief among close bereaved friends after the terror attack, 22 July 2011. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2264118. [PMID: 38047875 PMCID: PMC10990438 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2264118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Close friends are often an overlooked group of bereaved people. This study is based on a sub-project on young adults who experienced the loss of a close friend in the terrorist attack on Utøya, Norway, on 22 July 2011.Objective: The aim of this longitudinal study was to explore the relationship between complicated grief reactions, the need for help, and help received after losing a close friend to a traumatic death.Method: In total, data from 89 people (with a mean age of 21 years, 76.4% female) were collected at one or more of the four time-points: 18, 28, 40, and 102 months after the incident. Latent growth modelling was used to analyse levels of grief reactions and change over time, experienced need for help, and help received.Results: According to the results, the bereaved friends in our study were profoundly impacted by the loss and experienced level of reactions indicating complicated grief (mean scores on the Inventory of Complicated Grief varied from 36.2 to 23.7). A need for help was related to a decrease in grief symptoms, whereas a prolonged need for help was related to no reduction or an increase in grief. Received help was not related to decrease in grief symptoms.Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for continuous professional help, and demonstrate that the present help measures used after traumatic events may not adequately meet the needs of close bereaved friends. This emphasizes the importance of acknowledging friends as bereaved and that follow-up measures should also include this group. Finally, the study highlights the need to learn more about how professional can help bereaved friends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iren Johnsen
- Center for Crisis Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Rolf Gjestad
- Center for Crisis Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Tureluren E, Claes L, Andriessen K. Factors Associated With Alcohol and Substance Use in Bereaved College and University Students. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2022:302228221132904. [PMID: 36214171 DOI: 10.1177/00302228221132904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Experiencing the death of a loved one increases the risk of developing mental health problems. Students are vulnerable to developing mental health problems, to which substance use can contribute. Still, few studies have examined substance use in bereaved students. Using an online survey, we collected data about the impact of the death of a loved one on Belgian students' (N = 666) substance use. Using regression analysis we examined its relation to social support, grief, mental health and personal growth. A significant number of students indicated that the death affected their substance use. Feelings of grief and mental health distress played a significant role in students whose substance use increased after the death. There was no significant relationship between social support and personal growth and substance use. Our findings indicate that mental health professionals must address substance use when working with bereaved students to ensure early intervention and adequate support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Tureluren
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Claes
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Karl Andriessen
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Sillis L, Claes L, Andriessen K. Association between Grief and Somatic Complaints in Bereaved University and College Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12108. [PMID: 36231412 PMCID: PMC9566792 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many emerging adults experience the death of a loved one while they are enrolled as a student in higher education. Bereavement increases the risk of long-term adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Still, as most studies have focused on psychological aspects of grief, little is known about the impact of grief on somatic complaints in students, leaving them vulnerable to health deteriorations. This study aimed to address this gap, and we hypothesized that there is a positive association between grief and somatic complaints in bereaved students. Participants (N = 688) were students enrolled at Flemish universities and colleges in Belgium. Participants filled out an online survey with sociodemographic questions, two scales assessing grief, and somatic grief reactions, and two additional questions inquiring whether participants had experienced other somatic reactions, and whether they had taken any steps to remedy their somatic complaints. Regression analyses revealed that less social support, type of relationship (first-degree relative), and the level of grief were positively associated with somatic complaints, and bereaved students reported various complaints such as feeling pain and strains, thus confirming the hypothesis. As bereaved students may be reluctant to seek support for somatic complaints, the findings indicate that information and psychoeducation for bereaved students and their social environment must address somatic grief reactions and encourage timely help seeking. In addition, staff members at psychosocial and medical services for students should be trained to recognize somatic as well as psychological grief reactions. Appropriately skilled, they can inquire about such complaints and provide adequate support to prevent long-term health ramifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Sillis
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Claes
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Karl Andriessen
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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