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Open research questions in Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

531 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 5,262 Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The study acknowledges the complexity and uncertainty of the care trajectory for patients with advanced lung cancer. The study also acknowledges the emotional demands of caregiving for patients with advanced lung cancer. The study notes the challenges of providing targeted support to caregivers due to the lack of understanding of their cognitive experiences of anticipatory grief.

    An interpretive phenomenological study exploring cognitive experiences of anticipatory grief among primary family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of how caregivers make sense of anticipatory grief in their caregiving experience. The study aims to fill this gap by exploring the cognitive experiences of anticipatory grief among primary family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer in China.

    An interpretive phenomenological study exploring cognitive experiences of anticipatory grief among primary family caregivers of patients with advanced lung cancer · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the existing literature on clinical responses and therapeutic approaches to suicide loss, particularly with regards to the role of spirituality and religion. The study highlights the need for specialized clinical responses that integrate spirituality and meaning-making as core targets of therapeutic intervention.

    Spirituality, religion, and meaning-making in suicide loss: an international overview of clinical responses and therapeutic approaches · 2026 · DOI

  • Emotional demands of exposure to pregnancy and neonatal loss - Inconsistent support for staff - Lack of tailored training for staff with different roles and levels of experience - Cumulative emotional fatigue and burnout

    Examining the mental health support needs of NHS staff exposed to patient pregnancy and neonatal loss: A qualitative study · 2026 · DOI

  • Lack of attention to the experiences of NHS staff exposed to pregnancy and neonatal loss - Inconsistent support for staff exposed to pregnancy and neonatal loss - Need for improved training and support for staff

    Examining the mental health support needs of NHS staff exposed to patient pregnancy and neonatal loss: A qualitative study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further review of the meta-analysis by Li et al. Investigation into the effects of sampling methods on PGD prevalence estimates

    On estimating ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR prolonged grief disorder prevalence · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap identified is the potential overestimation of prolonged grief disorder prevalence due to flawed methodology. The use of convenience sampling may lead to biased estimates.

    On estimating ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR prolonged grief disorder prevalence · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies could investigate NDEs and NDE-like experiences in larger, more representative samples. Future research could also explore the use of qualitative analysis in conjunction with standardized assessment tools.

    Self-reported near-death and near-death-like experiences in a Chinese online sample: an exploratory mixed-methods study · 2026 · DOI

  • Empirical data from Chinese populations regarding near-death experiences and near-death-like experiences are limited. Prior studies have not fully captured culturally specific symbols, narrative structure, emotional interpretation, or personal meaning. The study aims to address this gap by exploring self-reported near-death and near-death-like experiences in a Chinese online sample.

    Self-reported near-death and near-death-like experiences in a Chinese online sample: an exploratory mixed-methods study · 2026 · DOI

  • Identifying gaps in evidence selection and resource implications in the existing guidelines. Developing guidelines that address the specific needs of bereaved individuals. Promoting concerted, evidence-based intervention for bereavement support.

    Bereavement support guidelines for caregivers in palliative care: a scoping review · 2025 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the reciprocal associations between PGD and state anger. The impact of involvement in the criminal justice system on PGD and state anger is not well understood. The study aims to fill this gap by exploring the relationships between PGD, state anger, and involvement in the criminal justice system.

    Reciprocal relations between prolonged grief and anger in homicidally bereaved people involved in a criminal trial: a four-wave cross-lagged panel model · 2025 · DOI

  • Empirical clarity regarding how attachment styles specifically impact PGD symptoms and therapeutic implications remains limited. The relationship between attachment styles and PGD symptoms is not well understood. Prior work has theorized extensively about the relationship, but more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms involved.

    Unraveling attachment – A network analysis of the cognitive pathways linking attachment and prolonged grief · 2025 · DOI

  • Further exploration of the barriers to person-centred maternity care, - Detailed analysis of the steps to address the coercive nature of medicine in childbirth

    Medical authority and expectations of conformity: crystallising a key barrier to person-centred care during labour and childbirth · 2024 · DOI

  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bereavement outcomes is not well understood. There is a need to investigate the mental health outcomes of individuals bereaved during the pandemic. The study aims to address the gap in understanding the effects of the pandemic on bereavement care.

    The mental health of Australians bereaved during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a latent class analysis · 2024 · DOI

  • This study aimed to explore the in-depth perspectives of parents who have lost a child to SUDEP, focusing on their experiences, grief, and coping strategies, while factoring in their demographics, the clinical features of their deceased children, and their previous awareness of SUDEP, all aspects that have not been systematically investigated before.

    SUDEP Awareness and Effect on Parental Trauma, Grief, and Coping After the Death of a Child · 2026 · DOI

  • Second, while bereavement care pathways exist in high-income settings, there are large gaps in evidence for optimal provision of supportive care in LMICs.

    The Urgent Need to Address Perinatal Mental Health After Stillbirth in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries · 2025 · DOI

  • This article helps to address this gap, laying the foundation for further investigation of miscarriage as a critical concern for reproductive politics.

    We need to talk about miscarriage: strategies and tensions in advocacy on early pregnancy loss · 2025 · DOI

  • The emotional benefit provided to the mother or other family members, while potentially significant, is insufficient to justify this dignitary harm.

    “Please baptize my son”: The Case against Baptizing a Dying, Unconscious Atheist · 2025 · DOI

  • However, few studies have focused on the initial experiences of parents facing a stillbirth.

    Is it possible for parents to endure a stillbirth? Initial experiences, perceptions and strategies: individual in-depth interviews in Sweden 2021–2023 · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the role of maternal anxiety in the association between a history of pregnancy loss and preterm birth remains unclear.

    Association between history of pregnancy loss and preterm birth: the mediating role of maternal anxiety · 2025 · DOI

  • Although some studies have been done on describing grief, there has been no consensus among researchers on a theoretical or empirical definition.

    Grief in the elderly: a qualitative content analysis · 2025 · DOI

  • Previous studies on the psychological consequences of pregnancy termination have had limitations, and little is known about the outcomes for partners and the impact of fetal donation.

    Psychological sequelae following second‐trimester termination of pregnancy: A longitudinal study · 2024 · DOI

  • This study sets out to address a gap in research among adolescents and emerging adult attitudes and opinions toward death.

    Uplifting and Uncanny Conversations Around Death and Dying: Qualitative Study Among Indian Adolescents and Emerging Adults · 2024 · DOI

  • Given contradictory evidence in previous studies, we conducted a meta-analysis to test these ideas.

    Supporting the status quo is weakly associated with subjective well-being: A comparison of the palliative function of ideology across social status groups using a meta-analytic approach. · 2024 · DOI

  • Limited knowledge exists about the support that people seek and offer online following miscarriage.

    Support sought and offered online for miscarriage: content analysis of a Facebook miscarriage support group · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

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531 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 5,262 Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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