PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT OF BEREAVEMENT AFTER SUICIDE AND FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT - A COMPARATIVE 2-COUNTRY STUDY

This study examines the psychosocial problems of spouses bereaved as a consequence of unnatural causes of death (suicide and traffic fatalit y) in two countries, Slovenia (n=53) and The Netherlands (n=32). Struc tured interviews consisted of standardized measures for depression, su bstance use, social reactions, and acceptance and attribution of the l oss. Although marked differences in sociodemographic background exist, bereaved subjects from both countries show more similarities than dif ferences. Depressed symptomatology is slightly higher in the Slovene b ereaved, but symptom patterns are almost identical. Core indicators of clinical depression, as well as reported substance use, are equally l ow in both countries, and gender and mode of death do not differ signi ficantly. Social acceptance is more problematic in suicide bereaved, p articularly in Slovenia. Methodological considerations of cross-cultur al bereavement studies are discussed.