Responses to Loss and Health Functioning Among Homicidally Bereaved African Americans

This investigation of homicidally bereaved African Americans (N = 47) aimed to describe changes in levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and complicated grief (CG), and physical and mental health functioning over a 6-month interval. Results showed a significant decrease in depressive and CG symptoms over time, but no significant changes in PTSD symptoms or health functioning. We also found no significant, synchronous relations between any form of bereavement distress and physical health. Depression was related to functional mental health such that a temporal increase in depression was associated with a decrease in mental health functioning. Research and clinical implications are discussed.