Citation

Levi-Belz Y. Psychol. Trauma 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Behavioral Sciences.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/tra0000456

PMID

30907613

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The study of suicide-loss survivors-specifically the study of healing processes in this population-is scant. This study represents an effort to extend this field by developing a comprehensive understanding of the underlying interpersonal facilitators of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among suicide-loss survivors in an 18-month longitudinal design. Our aim was to examine the key interpersonal factors that influence positive growth among survivors over time.

METHOD: Participants included 156 suicide-loss survivors (132 women and 24 men), aged 18 to 70. Participants completed several questionnaires, tapping the interpersonal factors of self-disclosure, social support, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness at T1 (baseline). Moreover, participants were assessed on PTG levels twice: at T1 and again at T2 (18 months later).

RESULTS: Belongingness, self-disclosure, and social support were found to be facilitators of increasing PTG levels at T2. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that self-disclosure and social support mediate the relationship between belongingness and PTG (T2), beyond the contribution of PTG at T1.

CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these findings, it can be inferred that the interpersonal factors of belongingness, self-disclosure, and social support play important roles in facilitating PTG among suicide-loss survivors. Thus, basic psychoeducational interventions specifically designed to foster self-disclosure and acquire support can help suicide-loss survivors achieve PTG following their traumatic loss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: en