The study shows that some behaviors can improve well-being after a loss
The loss of a loved one is something that has a huge impact on people’s lives, and often, you need to make an effort to practice self-care during this time.
A recent study shows that some simple activities can help people improve their mood and emotional well-being in everyday life after the traumatic loss of a loved one.
Wellbeing after a traumatic loss
“The premature or traumatic death of close friends or family is emotionally draining, and dealing with grief can be difficult,” says study co-author Caitlin Reynolds, a doctoral candidate at North Carolina State University in the US.
He says his team was conducting a larger study on how certain routine behaviors can affect emotional well-being and daily functioning. And researchers noted that a significant number of study participants were dealing with the traumatic loss of a loved one. This provided an opportunity to gain insights into how these behaviors may influence emotional well-being after a loss.
For this study, researchers worked with data from 440 adults living in the United States, aged 50 to 85. Of these, 356 reported the recent traumatic loss of a loved one. Participants completed a daily survey for 14 consecutive days, with questions designed to capture changes in each participant’s daily experiences and mood.
Do you feel older than you actually are?
The questionnaire also helped researchers capture information related to subjective age, i.e. whether people sometimes feel older or younger than they actually are, and how much this has to do with mood or emotional well-being .
One of the most important findings of the study was that certain activities, which they often call “spirit-lifting” acts, can have a significant impact on the lives of these people. Some examples of this are:
- complete a task;
- get enough sleep;
- Dining out;
- visit, call or write to a friend; OR
- spend time with family.
The researchers concluded that the activities were beneficial to all participants. But the effect was more pronounced for those who had suffered a traumatic loss, especially on days when people reported feeling older.
The findings held true even when the researchers took into account the socioeconomic status of the study participants, their age, and the age at which they first experienced a traumatic loss.
In other words, the work shows that making an effort to improve your mood can actually bring results. And this can be even more important on those days when you feel down.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
