Predictors and correlates of adaptation to conjugal bereavement

The authors interviewed 162 widows 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after bereavement to determine which sociodemographic, prebereavement, and response variables and circumstances of the husband's death were related to distress level, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The most important variable associated with high distress at 1 month was the woman's perception that she was seeing old friends less than before her husband's death. At 2 years it was possible to predict distress levels with 86% accuracy by means of a multiple regression analysis using 10 variables, including 1-month GHQ score, short final illness of the husband, and satisfaction with available help.