Which statement best describes how grief can affect mental health?

• A. Grief can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety, impacting overall psychological well-being.
• B. Grief has no connection to stress or mental health outcomes.
• C. Grief improves mental health by increasing emotional resilience in all individuals.
• D. Grief only causes temporary sadness and does not influence mental health.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of grief as an emotional response to loss, which can vary widely among individuals in intensity and duration.
2. Step 2: Recognize that grief can influence mental health by triggering emotional symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, and depression, which may affect a person's overall psychological well-being.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the incorrect statements by considering psychological research: grief is connected to stress and mental health outcomes, does not universally improve mental health, and its effects can extend beyond temporary sadness.
4. Step 4: Identify that the best description acknowledges grief's potential to lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety, highlighting its impact on mental health rather than minimizing or overstating its effects.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the statement 'Grief can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety, impacting overall psychological well-being' best captures the relationship between grief and mental health.