APSU Nursing Researchers Highlight Grief's Impact on Physical Health

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Two nursing professors at Austin Peay State University have published an article in the American Nurse Journal examining grief not only as an emotional experience, but as a health issue with measurable effects on the body. Their research highlights how unaddressed grief can influence immune function, inflammation, sleep, and long-term disease risk. The article describes various forms of grief that are often overlooked, such as anticipatory grief, disenfranchised grief, and prolonged or complicated grief. The authors emphasize that grief requires acknowledgment and care, rather than a quick fix, and encourage simple, compassionate actions to help reduce the physical and emotional toll of grief.

Why it matters

This research helps to raise awareness about the significant physical health impacts of unresolved grief, which is often misunderstood and minimized. By recognizing grief as a health issue, rather than just an emotional experience, healthcare providers and the general public can be better equipped to support those experiencing loss and provide the necessary care and resources to promote physical and emotional healing.

The details

The article, published in the American Nurse Journal, was written by Dr. Leslie Binford, assistant professor, and Dr. Debra Rose Wilson, Lenora C. Reuther Chair of Excellence, at Austin Peay State University. The researchers examine how grief can influence the body's immune function, inflammation, sleep, and long-term disease risk. They highlight various forms of grief that are often overlooked, such as anticipatory grief, disenfranchised grief, and prolonged or complicated grief. The authors emphasize that grief requires acknowledgment and care, rather than a quick fix, and encourage simple, compassionate actions to help reduce the physical and emotional toll of grief.

• The article was published in the fall of 2025.

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