Auburn College of Education alumna and professor lead groundbreaking research on prolonged grief

Research led by an Auburn University College of Education professor and College of Education alumna is challenging long‑held assumptions about grief and identifying changeable risk factors for what is known as Prolonged Grief Disorder, a condition only formally recognized in 2022.

The study, published in OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, was overseen by Auburn College of Education professor Jill Meyer and Auburn alumna Emma Quadlander‑Goff and examined why some bereaved individuals develop prolonged, impairing grief while others do not. Originating from a dissertation by Quadlander-Goff, the study examined 190 bereaved adults to identify what makes some people more likely to develop Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD).

“The most striking finding of the study was that it didn’t matter whether the death was sudden, violent or natural in terms of risks for PGD,” Quadlander-Goff said. “Contrary to what earlier studies suggested, how a loved one died was not a significant predictor of PGD. What mattered far more was how the bereaved person coped, and how close they were to the person they lost.”

Participants who relied on maladaptive coping strategies such as denial, self‑blame or emotional withdrawal were significantly more likely to meet diagnostic criteria. Those who reported being very close to the deceased were nearly three times as likely to show symptoms. And those who relied on dysfunctional coping, including self-blame, denial and self-distraction, were significantly more likely to develop PGD.

Prolonged Grief Disorder was formally added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2022, providing clinicians with standardized diagnostic criteria for the first time. However, limited research has examined PGD risk factors using tools validated against the new framework.

Using three validated instruments, the researchers measured PGD symptoms, coping styles and relationship closeness among a sample of bereaved adults.

“The finding that type of loss made no significant difference wasn’t anticipated and carries an important message for clinicians: don’t assume someone grieving a natural death is at lower risk,” Quadlander-Goff said.

A Hopeful Message

Although the circumstances of a death cannot be changed, the study emphasizes that many of the strongest PGD risk factors can be addressed through targeted support and treatment.

“This research offers a quietly hopeful message: the risk factors most strongly linked to prolonged grief and coping strategies are changeable,” Meyer said.

The authors encourage clinicians to help clients replace dysfunctional coping strategies with more active, problem‑focused approaches and to closely monitor those who have experienced the loss of a deeply significant relationship.

“People who find themselves stuck in cycles of self-blame, denial or emotional withdrawal after a loss should know these patterns carry real clinical risk, and that professional help exists specifically to address this,” Meyer said.

PGD differs from commonly experienced grief and involves persistent, impairing symptoms lasting at least a year after loss.

“PGD presents differently than conventional forms of grief,” Quadlander-Goff said.

A Next Step

Criteria described in the recent study include intense daily yearning or preoccupation with the deceased and additional symptoms such as emotional numbness, bitterness, difficulty reengaging with life or a disrupted sense of identity.

“If this sounds familiar, speaking with a licensed mental health professional is a reasonable next step,” Quadlander-Goff said. “Reaching out to a professional who understands PGD firsthand can make a meaningful difference.”

Quadlander‑Goff, who earned her Ph.D. in counselor education from Auburn University’s College of Education in 2023, is a licensed professional counselor and national certified counselor based in Alabama. She is the founder of Tri‑State Counseling and Consulting, LLC, where she provides specialized clinical services to individuals navigating grief, trauma and major life transitions and is currently accepting clients, including those experiencing symptoms of PGD.

Her bereavement research has been published in OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying, The Journal of Rehabilitation and The Professional Counselor, and she received the 2025 Research Award from the Alabama Counseling Association for her contributions to grief literature. Her clinical work is informed directly by her research, with a focus on compassionate, evidence‑based care. She is also committed to expanding access to grief support in rural and underserved Southern communities through telemental health services.

Quadlander‑Goff and Meyer have led a series of studies examining grief risk and resilience. A follow‑up study currently under peer review explores how the nature and quality of a bereaved person’s relationship with the deceased shapes coping patterns. The researchers have presented their work internationally and will share new findings this fall at the European Grief Conference in Porto, Portugal, focused on how cumulative loss over time affects grief severity and coping strategies.