Risk and correlates of prolonged grief disorder in bereaved Chinese university students.

Abstract

Bereavement can present significant challenges for university students, yet the proportion at risk of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) remains unclear. This study examined the proportion at risk of PGD and associated factors among Chinese university students. Using an online survey administered to bereaved university students in mainland China (N = 948), 424 students (M_age=21.60, 56.1% female) reported a significant loss for more than 12 months. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to examine associations between PGD risk and related factors. Results showed 14.2% of the sample were at high risk of PGD. The most frequently reported symptoms were a marked sense of disbelief, intense emotional pain, and yearning for the deceased. PGD risk was associated with physical health, age and relationship to the deceased, expectedness and cause of death, resilience, and stress since the loss. Identifying these correlates can inform future prevention or intervention strategies for bereaved university students.