Examining Psychopathology and Posttraumatic Growth in a National Sample of Bereaved Individuals

Abstract

Loss of a loved one leads to variable psychological responses. While many individuals endure long-term psychological difficulties following losses, others do not. Understanding psychosocial correlates of perceived growth in individuals who have lost loved ones and psychopathology and mental health outcomes across different types of loss could inform clinical interventions and broaden the knowledge base of relevant psychosocial correlates and psychological outcomes in this population. Using a national sample, we examined the relationships between perceived posttraumatic growth (PTG) and psychosocial variables, namely posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, social support, and discrimination across individuals (N = 2,034) losing someone to natural loss (e.g., cancer; n = 514) and traumatic loss (e.g., homicide, suicide, and fatal overdose; n = 1,015). We included a control group of individuals not reporting loss (n = 505) to use as a comparison group and examined group differences in psychological and growth-oriented outcomes. In regression models across each group, social support and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were associated with perceived PTG. For the traumatic loss group, psychopathology was generally higher relative to natural and control conditions. There were no significant group differences in perceived PTG. The findings highlight the importance of considering differences in psychological functioning and the role of psychosocial correlates in perceived PTG across loss types. The results inform clinical interventions for bereaved individuals and add to our knowledge base in the areas of psychosocial correlates of psychopathology and psychological growth across loss types. Results also suggest that perceived PTG may not vary across different types of loss, informing perceived PTG conceptual models.

Publication Title

Traumatology

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