Morbid grief III: The influence of variables on the degree of grief reaction, depression and anxiety among close relatives of the "red-terror" victims

Abstract

Abstract: To analyze some of the variables of the bereaved and of the victims that could significantly influence the degree of grief reaction, depression and anxiety, 91 randomly selected close relatives of victims of the ‘red-terror’ have completed the ETIG (Expanded Texas Inventory of Grief), BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), and SAI (State Anxiety Inventory) 18 years after the loss. All these questionnaires are self-rating, Amharic-translated and with acceptable face validity, but they are not yet concurrently validated with their corresponding English versions. The results have shown that the older age group (60-79 yrs) had a mean score of (131.63) on ETIG which is significantly higher (P<0.05) than that (118.56) of the youngest age group (20-39 yrs). The widows/ers had the highest mean score (139.95) on ETIG which is significantly higher (P<0.01 and P<0.001) than those of married (124.83) and singles (117.61), respectively. They were also found to have a mean score of 56.62 on SAI which is significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of singles (47.70) only. Parents who lost son(s) had a mean score of 132.26 on ETIG which is significantly higher (P<0.01) than those who lost brother(s) (118.93). Among the variables of the victims, where the dead body was given to relatives for funeral services, the mean score on the ETIG was 109.2 and this was found to be significantly lower (P<0.02 and P<0.001) than where the dead body was left on the street and not given to relatives (127.89) or where the dead body was neither left on the street nor given to relatives (129), respectively. It was recommended that the older age group, widows/ers, parents who lost son(s) and those who could not confirm the death of the victim by seeing the dead body, should get priority for counselling. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(3):257-261]