OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-20DOI: 10.1177/00302228261498471
Giana Khalifa
{"title":"Embodied Grief in the Shadow of Violence: An Integrative Conceptual Review of Widowhood, Trauma, and Social Constraint.","authors":"Giana Khalifa","doi":"10.1177/00302228261498471","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261498471","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Violent widowhood remains among the least theorized forms of bereavement. While dominant Western psychological models have advanced grief theory, they do not adequately explain grief following intentional spousal loss amid violence, ongoing threat, and gendered social regulation. This integrative conceptual review synthesizes interdisciplinary and cross-cultural scholarship on violent widowhood, traumatic bereavement, embodiment, structural violence, and social constraint to develop a context-sensitive framework for grief after intentional spousal loss. Four interrelated dimensions are identified: traumatic bereavement, embodied grief, gendered and culturally situated mourning, and structural violence under enduring threat. These conditions are argued to fundamentally shape grief in violent widowhood. Rather than following a linear recovery trajectory, grief is conceptualized as an ongoing process of negotiating identity, embodiment, and social belonging. The proposed framework positions adaptation as relational, context-dependent, and constrained by persistent social and structural conditions, thereby extending contemporary bereavement theory beyond individualistic psychological models.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261498471"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149229087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-20DOI: 10.1177/00302228261500223
Kylee F Behringer, Megan E Renna
{"title":"Bereavement, Psychological Distress, and Inflammation: Findings From the MIDUS Refresher Cohort.","authors":"Kylee F Behringer, Megan E Renna","doi":"10.1177/00302228261500223","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261500223","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bereavement can adversely affect psychological and physical health. Using MIDUS Refresher 1 data, we examined psychological and inflammatory differences between bereaved (<i>n</i> = 373) and non-bereaved (<i>n</i> = 490) adults and tested whether depression, anxiety, and stress moderated associations between bereavement and inflammation. Participants completed measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress and provided blood samples for interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Adjusting for key covariates, bereaved participants reported significantly greater depressive symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress (<i>ps</i> < .001) and had higher IL-6 (<i>p</i> = .001) and TNF-α (<i>p</i> < .001) than non-bereaved participants. Psychological symptoms did not moderate associations between bereavement and inflammatory markers. Findings suggest that bereavement is associated with concurrent psychological distress and elevated inflammation, but these effects may be partly independent. Identifying other psychological and contextual factors may clarify individual differences in inflammatory responses following loss.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261500223"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149229111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Comparative Study of Grief Severity, Executive Functions, and Social Support Following Human Vs. Companion Animal Loss.","authors":"Zeynep Emel Öztürk, Elvin Doğutepe, Selin Yılmaz Şahiner","doi":"10.1177/00302228261499006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261499006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Losing a loved one profoundly impacts social and cognitive domains, yet the loss of a companion animal (CA) is often an overlooked area of study. This research investigated whether CA loss carries the same weight as human loss by comparing grief severity, executive functions, and perceived social support. The study analyzed 307 participants from Turkey (205 human loss; 102 CA loss). Results indicated no significant differences between the two groups in terms of grief severity or perceived social support. Furthermore, analysis with executive functioning indices revealed no differences between those grieving a human versus a CA. These findings indicate that grief severity, perceived social support, and self-reported executive functioning did not differ significantly between the groups on the measures examined in this study. These findings contribute to the growing recognition of CA bereavement and highlight the importance of addressing the needs of individuals who experience CA loss.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261499006"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149221260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-18DOI: 10.1177/00302228261499818
Senahan Coban, Serap Ozturk Altinayak
{"title":"Midwives' Experiences With Prenatal Loss: A Phenomenological Study.","authors":"Senahan Coban, Serap Ozturk Altinayak","doi":"10.1177/00302228261499818","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261499818","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study was conducted to examine midwives' experiences related to prenatal loss. The study employed an interpretive phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research designs. Criterion sampling was used. The inclusion criteria were defined as being a midwife who has provided care to pregnant women experiencing prenatal loss and having at least five years of professional clinical experience. A total of 20 midwives were interviewed. Seven core themes were identified. The study revealed that as midwives gained more experience with such challenging situations, their coping strategies evolved; they developed broader perspectives and demonstrated more conscious, professional, composed, and empathetic approaches. While the majority of participants were deeply affected by these events, some stated that their emotional state remained unchanged. Midwives can be supported with additional education and resources, particularly during the early years of their professional careers, to help them cope with these processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261499818"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149217424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-15DOI: 10.1177/00302228261496764
Kohske Ogata
{"title":"Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Homicidally Bereaved Individuals: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Kohske Ogata","doi":"10.1177/00302228261496764","DOIUrl":"10.1177/00302228261496764","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Homicidal bereavement combines the loss of a close person with exposure to intentional interpersonal violence, yet its posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) burden has not been quantitatively synthesized. This systematic review identified 35 reports, of which nine independent, non-treatment-selected samples (N = 1,389) contributed to a Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis. Categorical and continuous PTSD outcomes were harmonized using a latent-threshold framework. The pooled latent-z estimate was -0.50 (95% credible interval [-1.08, 0.09]), corresponding to a threshold-equivalent PTSD prevalence of 30.9% (95% CrI [14.1%, 53.6%]), with substantial between-study heterogeneity (τ = 0.82, 95% CrI [0.52, 1.42]). Sensitivity and leave-one-out analyses generally supported the primary findings, although uncertainty remained substantial in the risk-of-bias sensitivity analysis. These results suggest clinically consequential PTSD burden among homicidally bereaved individuals and support considering trauma-related psychopathology, alongside grief, when evaluating the psychological consequences of homicide.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261496764"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149198289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-13DOI: 10.1177/00302228261496832
Corey H Basch, Nicole Milano, Erin Bowen, Tina Y Lee, Grace C Hillyer
{"title":"The Psychological Impact of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood: Associations Between Early Professional Interactions and Long-Term Distress Among Bereaved Caregivers.","authors":"Corey H Basch, Nicole Milano, Erin Bowen, Tina Y Lee, Grace C Hillyer","doi":"10.1177/00302228261496832","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261496832","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Each year, approximately 500 U.S. children aged 1-18 years die suddenly and without explanation. Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is a devastating loss with profound psychological consequences for caregivers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 174 caregivers whose child's death was classified as SUDC at least one year earlier. Using a trauma-informed framework, we assessed anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), prolonged grief (BGQ), posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL-6), functional impairment (WSAS), and experiences with emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency department (ED) personnel. Moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression were reported by 26.4% and 22.4% of caregivers, respectively, and 35.4% had probable PTSD. Distress was greatest among caregivers whose loss occurred 1-2 years earlier and those aged ≤40 years. Nearly half reported neutral or negative interactions with EMS and ED personnel, highlighting the need for trauma-informed training for professionals supporting families following a child's sudden and unexplained death.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261496832"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149186770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reclaiming Autonomy and Control: Themes From Public Narratives Advocating for Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia.","authors":"Jarrah FitzGerald, Janette Collier, Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh","doi":"10.1177/00302228261498082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261498082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Existing research on assisted dying has examined legal frameworks, public attitudes, and clinical implementation. Less attention has been paid to how advocates construct its meaning. Using template analysis, 345 publicly available narratives from Australian advocacy websites were analyzed to examine how advocates conceptualize the purpose and value of assisted dying in end-of-life decision-making. Five interrelated themes were identified: (1) reclaiming autonomy, choice, and control; (2) alleviating pain and suffering; (3) preserving dignity; (4) minimizing secondary impacts on others; and (5) addressing objections to voluntary assisted dying. Across narratives, suffering was framed not only as physical pain but as an existential threat to selfhood, identity, dignity, and agency. This study contributes an interpretive account of how Australian VAD advocacy narratives construct its meaning and purpose in relation to suffering, autonomy, dignity, and personhood.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261498082"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149172185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-10DOI: 10.1177/00302228261494519
Esra Kilic Ceyhan, Cicek Nilsu Varliklar Demirkazik, Sukran Kolay Cepni
{"title":"A Birth, a Death: The Grief Experiences of Mothers Who Lose One of Their Twins after Birth.","authors":"Esra Kilic Ceyhan, Cicek Nilsu Varliklar Demirkazik, Sukran Kolay Cepni","doi":"10.1177/00302228261494519","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261494519","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores the unique grief experiences of mothers who have lost one of their babies after a twin pregnancy. It aims to provide an in-depth understanding of their emotions, the challenges they faced, and their coping strategies. The data were analyzed using six-phase thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with seven mothers in Türkiye who experienced this loss. The analysis revealed that mothers experienced an intense emotional duality characterized by simultaneous grief and attachment to the surviving infant. Mothers described feelings of shock, guilt, emotional conflict, overprotective parenting, and disenfranchised grief shaped by societal minimization of their loss. Interactions with healthcare systems, funeral practices, spouses, and social environments significantly influenced the process. The study highlights the need for trauma-informed psychosocial interventions for bereaved families and emphasizes the importance of legitimizing the grief of mothers who lose one of their twins.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261494519"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149170487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-10DOI: 10.1177/00302228261495238
Susanna Vainio, Anja Terkamo-Moisio, Anna Liisa Aho
{"title":"Parents' Grief Process After the Death of Their Child From Substance Abuse.","authors":"Susanna Vainio, Anja Terkamo-Moisio, Anna Liisa Aho","doi":"10.1177/00302228261495238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261495238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to describe parents' grief process after the death of their child caused by substance abuse. The research data were collected from parents at closed peer discussion forums online using an e-questionnaire with open-ended questions (n = 95) and seven parents were additionally interviewed. The research data were analysed using data-driven content analysis. The parents' grief process after the death of their child from substance abuse included the processing of traumatic emotional experiences, a strain on well-being and functional capacity, grieving and grief avoidance, change in the parenthood identity, disintegration of social relationships, acceptance of the death of the child and hopelessness about the future. Parents' grief process after the child's death from substance abuse is extremely comprehensive, permanently affecting different areas of the parents' lives, including strain on well-being and functional capacity, change in the parenthood identity and disintegration of social relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261495238"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149169236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OmegaPub Date : 2026-10-10DOI: 10.1177/00302228261496977
Patryk Malejka
{"title":"Loss Orientation and Grief Following AI-Companion Shutdown.","authors":"Patryk Malejka","doi":"10.1177/00302228261496977","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228261496977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined whether grief after an AI-companion shutdown is associated with what users describe as lost. Fifty-seven accounts collected after the shutdown of the Soulmate AI application were independently coded by two raters for grief intensity and dominant loss orientation, and each coding was analysed separately. Accounts framing the loss as that of a person showed greater grief than those framing it as the loss of an idea, a service, data, or platform access: medians were 4 versus 2 (rank-biserial r = .80 and .82). A finer three-category comparison could be tested only in the first coder's data, where grief was highest in person-oriented accounts and idea-oriented accounts did not differ significantly from system-facing accounts. Reported weekly usage was also associated with grief (ρ = .38 and .43) but was not associated with loss orientation. The association between loss orientation and grief remained after accounting for reported weekly usage.</p>","PeriodicalId":74338,"journal":{"name":"Omega","volume":" ","pages":"302228261496977"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149167695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}