Understanding posttraumatic growth after suicide bereavement: the impact of coping style and reflective functioning

Background: The experience of suicide bereavement (SB) may vary when compared to expected bereavement (EB) and unexpected bereavement (UB). However, evidence has shown that individuals bereaved by suicide can experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). Additionally, other research has highlighted that one’s coping style and level of reflective functioning (RF) can impact trauma response. Understanding the impact of these factors could enhance support for those in need.Objective: This study had three objectives: (1) Investigate the relationship between RF and PTG in the context of bereavement for emerging adults; (2) Compare PTG experience following EB, UB, and SB; (3) Examine the relationship between RF and coping style in relation to PTG in this population (i.e. how their interaction affects PTG development).Method: Participants (N = 231; 18–29-year-olds from the UK who experienced bereavement after the age of six) completed an online quantitative survey. Correlation and regression analyses were run to examine the relationships among bereavement type, coping style, reflective functioning, and PTG.Results: The regression analysis showed that main effects of SB (compared to EB and UB), low reflective functioning (uncertainty), and adaptive coping significantly predicted higher levels of PTG following bereavement – their two- and three-way interactions did not better explain these results than the main effects alone. However, when incorporating the loss-related characteristics of relationship of deceased and age of deceased at time of loss into the regression, SB was no longer significant in predicting PTG.Conclusions: This was the first study to examine the relationship between RF and PTG following bereavement. Losing a loved one can be one of life’s most challenging events; however, bereaved individuals can still find meaning and grow after their loss. Bereavement type, reflective functioning, and coping style should be considered in conjunction with loss-related characteristics towards PTG development.