Disaster-related bereavement: Acute symptoms and subsequent depression

Despite the large body of literature on bereavement, gaps remain in our cur rent understanding of disaster-related bereavement. We examined acute (1 wk post-disaster) and subsequent (2 mo) bereavement in 1 members of an Air Fo rce community after the loss of 7 crewmembers and 1 passenger in a plane cr ash. Relative to a comparison group, the subjects had higher levels of acut e intrusive and avoidant symptoms, and higher levels of depressive symptoms at 2 mo. High acute intrusive and avoidant symptoms were associated with h igher levels of depressive symptoms at 2 mo. Single subjects with significa nt others had higher intrusive, avoidant, and depressive symptoms at 2 mo t han singles without significant others and married subjects. Closer communi ty ties (less transience) predicted higher acute intrusive and avoidant sym ptoms, and approached significance for depressive symptoms. After controlli ng for initial symptoms, the best predictors of depression at 2 mo were: lo w hardiness, being single, and low perceived support from friends.