Cross-cultural assessment of prolonged grief symptomatology in Switzerland, Rwanda, and Viet Nam: protocol for an experience sampling study.

Huy Hoang Le, Pelin Sila Gelmez, Celestin Mutuyimana, Eva-Maria Stelzer, Hung Nguyen, Clare Killikelly

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

Feasibility and acceptability of using experience sampling method to assess daily grief reactions in Viet Nam.Digital health
Article

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Huy Hoang LeDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Intervention and Global Mental Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. hoang.le@uzh.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-0483-3566

Pelin Sila GelmezDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Intervention and Global Mental Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-5588-3705

Celestin MutuyimanaDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Intervention and Global Mental Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6595-2796

Eva-Maria StelzerDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Intervention and Global Mental Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3589-8602

Hung NguyenDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Intervention and Global Mental Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-0641-3082

Clare KillikellyDepartment of Psychology, Division of Clinical Intervention and Global Mental Health, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2661-4521

Funding

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung TMSGI1_218018

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite grief being a universal experience, current understanding of the trajectory and predictive factors of the new condition, Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), mostly arises from studies conducted in Europe and North America. Research suggests cultural variations in how grief develops across time. This study aims to longitudinally compare PGD growth patterns across Swiss, Vietnamese, and Rwandan bereaved individuals.

methodsDue to grief’s wave-like nature, experience sampling methods (ESM) enables a fine-grained temporal analysis of grief manifestation. A total of 100 bereaved individuals from each country who lost a loved one in the last 3 years will complete a 2-week ESM assessment app (mPath) every 3 months for 6 months (Viet Nam and Rwanda) or 18 months (Switzerland). The app sends daily reminders to complete a questionnaire about PGD symptoms and daily life context. Participants will also complete a baseline mental health assessment before each ESM period. The primary outcomes are symptom variability and chronicity, while secondary outcomes include culturally specific predictive factors of prolonged grief symptoms (e.g., mourning rituals). Acceptability and feasibility of daily assessment will also be assessed. The method and specific ESM items have been developed and tested through cognitive interviews with bereaved individuals from each cultural group to ensure cultural acceptability. DISCUSSION: The current study is the first to longitudinally explore potential cultural variations in grief trajectories across Swiss, Vietnamese, and Rwandan bereaved individuals. This study has significant potential to contribute to more nuanced, culturally informed, and technologically integrated approaches to bereavement care.

Indexed as

Cross-Cultural ComparisonGriefProlonged Grief DisorderAdultFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedRwandaSurveys and QuestionnairesSwitzerlandVietnamBereavementCross-cultural comparisonDaily assessmentDigital mental healthDigital screeningEcological momentary assessmentExperience sampling methodGrief

Identifiers

PMID41316401

DOI10.1186/s40359-025-03682-0

PMCPMC12661751

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LicenceCC BY

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.