The purpose of this study was to test the validity and utility of dist
inguishing symptoms of anxiety from those of depression and grief in r
ecently spousally bereaved elders. We also examined pathways from base
line (six months or less post-spousal death) to follow-up (12 and 18 m
onths post-death) levels of anxiety, depression and grief-related symp
toms. Baseline and follow-up data were available om Sd recently widowe
d elderly subjects recruited for an investigation of physiological cha
nges in bereavement. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a mod
el in which anxiety was specified as a third factor, apart from depres
sion and grief factors, fit the data well and significantly better tha
n either the one or two factor models. Path analyses revealed that bot
h baseline severity of grief and anxiety had significant lagged effect
s and predicted follow-up severity of depression. Symptoms of anxiety
appeared distinct from those of depression and grief, and the anxiety,
depression and grief factors differentially predicted subsequent symp
tomatoloy. These Findings suggest a need for more specific identificat
ion and treatment of anxiety, depression and grief symptoms within the
context of late-life spousal bereavement. Anxiety 2:1-12 (1996). (C)
1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.