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Self‐worth mediates the effects of violent loss on PTSD symptoms
Author(s) -
Mancini Anthony D.,
Prati Gabriele,
Black Sarah
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20597
Subject(s) - grief , psychology , posttraumatic stress , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , injury prevention , poison control , suicide prevention , complicated grief , traumatic grief , psychiatry , psychotherapist , medicine , medical emergency , economics , macroeconomics
Although research has confirmed that violent losses can exacerbate grief reactions, few investigations have explored underlying mechanisms. In this study, the authors used a dataset on bereaved spouses and bereaved parents at 4‐ and 18‐months postloss to examine the mediating effects of self‐worth and worldviews (benevolence and meaningfulness beliefs). Persons bereaved by violent causes had significantly more posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, and depression symptoms at 4‐ and 18‐months postloss than persons bereaved by natural causes. Moreover, self‐worth but not worldviews mediated the effects of violent loss on PTSD and depression symptoms cross sectionally and PTSD symptoms longitudinally. Findings underscore that self‐views are a critical component of problematic reactions to violent loss, but fail to support the role of “shattered” worldviews.