Prevalence and Predictors of Prolonged Grief Symptoms Among University Students in Iran.

Abstract

This study explore the prevalence of prolonged grief symptoms among university students in Tehran and assesses the relationship of this disorder with demographic factors, loss-related factors, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. A sample of 901 bereaved students was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires and analyzed using Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and logistic regression. The findings revealed that the prevalence of prolonged grief symptoms in this population was 10.9% and that it had significant associations with gender, duration since the loss, relationship with the deceased, and cause of death. Posttraumatic stress symptoms and depression symptoms were identified as significant predictors of prolonged grief symptoms. This study contributes to identifying factors influencing prolonged grief symptoms in the student population and emphasizes the importance of targeted interventions for this group.