Sensory experiences of one’s deceased spouse in older adults: An analysis of predisposing factors

Abstract

Objectives

This study focuses on pre-disposing factors associated with sensory experiences of the deceased (SED), also called bereavement hallucinations. Even though SED are common among older widowed adults, our knowledge of these experiences is still limited.

Method

Survey responses were obtained from 310 older widowed participants (M = 70.05 ± 8.39), complemented with data from Danish national registers.

Results

Hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed four significant pre-disposing factors: prior experiences of SED in the context of previous significant bereavements (OR = 4.72), a history of interpersonal trauma (OR = 5.8), high pre-death relationship closeness (OR = 2.76) and stronger religious/spiritual worldview (OR = 1.12). No association to registered mental health diagnosis was identified.

Conclusion: SED may be considered an interpersonal experience, which may be more likely to occur if the pre-death relationship is described as very close and if the bereaved has previously experienced interpersonal trauma. We argue that SED should not necessarily be considered an indication of neurodegenerative or psychiatric diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Auditory-verbal hallucinations
• bereavement
• hallucinations
• non-clinical
• non-responder analysis

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Correction

Acknowledgements

We thank Associate Professor Maja O’Connor for her valuable and constructive suggestions for the development of this study. We thank Kaare Bro Wellnitz, PhD, for statistical assistance. We thank all of the participants who took part in the survey study and enabled this research to be possible.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest

Notes

1 The letter included a typing-error correction in the stated timeframe of the participant’s bereavement from 15.02.2016-30.03.2016 to 01.03.2016-15.04.2016.

2 25 participants reporting to be unsure of having had SED were excluded.