Sometimes it is complicated to understand individuals who fail to express grief.  It is important to realize that some individuals grieve in their own time or in private. However there are factors in an individual's life that can restrict their grieving and lead to complicate mourning. 
These include: 

Relationship factors -" The most frequent  type of relationship that hinders people from adequately grieving is the highly ambivalent one."   (William Worden, 1986) If the bereaved had a uneasy relationship with a parent or a sibling, they may be very confused about their emotions.  If the bereaved was highly dependent on the deceased they may also have difficulty expressing grief. 

Circumstance factors - If the loss was uncertain as in a missing person or a result of a multiple loss such in an accident or force of nature, the bereaved may have a difficult time sorting out their grief. Also the care of a survivor may also hinder the grief of the bereaved. 

Historical factors - If the bereaved had complicated grief reactions in the past they may be more prone to difficulty expressing grief.  William Worden  states the early parent loss can result in difficulty for the child in later years in grief. 

Personality factors - Individuals who do not tolerate dependency well will have problems grieving.  Individuals who see themselves as the strong one in the family often have this difficulty. 

Social factors - If the loss is socially unspeakable (suicide), or if the loss is negated (often seen in some individuals reaction to miscarriage) or if their is a lack of social support, the bereaved will have difficulty grieving completely. 

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