Predictors of complicated and uncomplicated grief after the death of a companion animal

Previous research suggests there may be specific owner characteristics and situational variables that can increase risk of poor bereavement outcome after the loss of a pet (e.g., Gosse & Barnes, 1994). In the present investigation, combinations of owner-related, pet-related, and personality/hassles/support-related variables were examined in terms of their relationship to both complicated and intense uncomplicated grief in general, as well as in the context of euthanasia specifically.

Voluntary participants (N=201) completed the Core Bereavement Items scale (CBI; Burnett et al., 1997); the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG; Prigerson et al., 1995), the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS; Johnson et al., 1992); the Unsupportive Social Interactions Inventory (USII; Ingram et al., 2001); the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ-6; Sarason et al., 1987); the Survey of Recent Life Experiences (SRLE; Kohn & Macdonald, 1992); the Personal Functioning Inventory (PFI; Kohn et al., 2003); and a Demographics/General Information Questionnaire. Predictors of complicated grief included unsupportive social interactions, high attachment, a non-euthanasia cause of death, shorter time since loss, a high level of daily hassles, as well as a combination of low adaptiveness and sudden death. Predictors of complicated grief in the context of euthanasia included unsupportive social interactions, high attachment, shorter time since loss, presence at the euthanasia, as well as the combination of low adaptiveness and sudden death of pet, and the combination of low adaptiveness and high hassles exposure. In terms of intense uncomplicated grief, predictors included unsupportive social interactions, high attachment to the pet, a non-euthanasia cause of death, shorter time since loss, and low adaptiveness. In the context of euthanasia, predictors of intense uncomplicated grief included unsupportive social interactions, high attachment, and shorter time since loss, as well as the combination of low adaptiveness and sudden death of the pet, and the combination of low adaptiveness and high hassles exposure.

Results of the present study identified multiple variables that predicted complicated and intense uncomplicated grief reactions of owners after the loss of their pets. This contributed to the development of a profile of owners who are at risk for poor bereavement outcomes. The implications for veterinarians and mental health professionals are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.