The association between event centrality of bereavement and prolonged grief: Mediating effects of grief avoidance and meaning reconstruction

This study examined the parallel mediating effects of grief avoidance and meaning reconstruction in the relationship between event centrality and prolonged grief among bereaved adults. An online survey was conducted among 350 adults of 19 years or older residing in South Korea. PROCESS macro was employed to test the parallel multiple mediation model. The following findings were reported. First, event centrality had a significant positive impact on prolonged grief. Second, grief avoidance had a significant positive mediating effect on the relationship between event centrality and prolonged grief. Third, meaning reconstruction demonstrated a significant negative mediating effect on the relationship between event centrality and prolonged grief. Fourth, grief avoidance and meaning reconstruction had a significant parallel mediating effect on the relationship between event centrality and prolonged grief. This study contributes to an integrated understanding of complex mechanisms underlying prolonged grief and provides foundational evidence for the development of effective intervention strategies.