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Do religious or spiritual beliefs influence bereavement? A systematic review
Gerhild Becker1, Carola J Xander, Hubert E Blum
1Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. becker@med1.ukl.uni
Background:
Responses to bereavement may be influenced by characteristics such as age or gender, but also by factors like culture and religion.
Aim:
A systematic review was undertaken to assess whether spiritual or religious beliefs alter the process of grief and/or bereavement.
Methods:
Fifteen computerized databases were searched. Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence was graded according to the standard grading system of the Clinical Outcomes Group and by the SIGNAL score.
Results:
In total, 5715 persons were examined: 69% women, 87% white, 83% protestant. Ninety-four percent of studies show some positive effects of religious/spiritual beliefs on bereavement, but there was a great heterogeneity regarding included populations and outcome measurements.
Conclusion:
Available data do not allow for a definite answer on whether religious/spiritual beliefs effectively influence bereavement as most studies suffer from weaknesses in design and methodological flaws. Further research is needed. Recommendations for further research are given.
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