Post-bereavement growth: An examination in the context of grief process, coping styles and cognitive distortions

The aim of the present study was to explore bereavement from a multidimensional perspective and to focus on the phenomenon of post-bereavement growth. At the first stage of this two-staged study, the Post-Bereavement Growth Scale was developed. At the second stage, the post-bereavement growth was examined within the context of grief process, coping and cognitive distortions. Sample group of the first stage consisted of 335 adults between the ages of 18-65 who have experienced bereavement, at least 3 months and at most 2 years ago. At the second stage, the sample group consisted of 182 people who were included in the study following the same criteria. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, validity and reliability studies of the Post-Bereavement Growth Scale demonstrated a 5-factor structure with 26 items. The sub-dimensions of the scale were determined as: Functioning, Personal Resources, Relational Coping, Making Sense of Life and Adjustment. At the second stage of the present study, results revealed that both the symptoms of grief and post-bereavement growth differed in terms of gender, age and psychological problems related to the loss. Moreover, it was found out that symptoms of grief also differed in terms of marital status, characteristics of the loss and the physical problems suffered with respect to the loss as well. The predictive power analyses yielded coping had a positive predictive effect on post-bereavement growth whereas cognitive distortions had a negative predictive effect. Regarding the grief process, controlling for the traumatic experience scores of the participants, functioning and adjustment, the sub-dimensions of post-bereavement growth, negatively predicted grief symptoms, whereas making sense of life was found out to be a positive predictor of the grief symptoms. The results were discussed in the light of the relevant literature findings and suggestions were made in order to foster post-bereavement growth.