Christopher W Drapeau1, Jennifer D Lockman2, Melinda M Moore3, Julie Cerel4. 1. 1 Department of Education, Valparaiso University, IN, USA. 2. 2 The VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua, NY, USA. 3. 3 Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, USA. 4. 4 College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Abstract
Background: Although suicide loss has been associated with several negative outcomes, numerous studies have shown that loss survivors can experience posttraumatic growth (PTG) following the suicide loss of a significant other. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms of such growth. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of PTG among a sample of adult suicide loss survivors and to explore whether the amount of time since the suicide loss moderated the relation between self-reported coping and PTG. Method: Suicide-bereaved adults (n = 307) completed online questionnaires measuring personality, coping, help-seeking attitudes, social support, and PTG. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses showed five independent associations with PTG: time since loss, perceived closeness, help-seeking attitudes, social support, and problem-focused coping. Time since loss did not moderate the relation between any of the self-reported coping styles and PTG. Limitations: The limitations of this study include a cross-sectional design, potential selection bias, no comparison or control group, and unrepresentative sample demographics of suicide loss survivors. Conclusion: Problem-focused coping showed the strongest association with PTG, independent of time since loss, suggesting that this coping style may facilitate growth throughout the grief trajectory.
Background: Although suicide loss has been associated with several negative outcomes, numerous studies have shown that loss survivors can experience posttraumatic growth (PTG) following the suicide loss of a significant other. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms of such growth. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of PTG among a sample of adult suicide loss survivors and to explore whether the amount of time since the suicide loss moderated the relation between self-reported coping and PTG. Method: Suicide-bereaved adults (n = 307) completed online questionnaires measuring personality, coping, help-seeking attitudes, social support, and PTG. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses showed five independent associations with PTG: time since loss, perceived closeness, help-seeking attitudes, social support, and problem-focused coping. Time since loss did not moderate the relation between any of the self-reported coping styles and PTG. Limitations: The limitations of this study include a cross-sectional design, potential selection bias, no comparison or control group, and unrepresentative sample demographics of suicide loss survivors. Conclusion: Problem-focused coping showed the strongest association with PTG, independent of time since loss, suggesting that this coping style may facilitate growth throughout the grief trajectory.
Entities:
Keywords:
bereavement; coping; posttraumatic growth; social support; suicide
Authors: Joscelyn E Fisher; Jing Zhou; Rafael F Zuleta; Carol S Fullerton; Robert J Ursano; Stephen J Cozza Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2020-08-06 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Laura M Frey; Christopher W Drapeau; Anthony Fulginiti; Nathalie Oexle; Dese'Rae L Stage; Lindsay Sheehan; Julie Cerel; Melinda Moore Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-10-10 Impact factor: 3.390