Assumptive Worldviews and Prolonged Grief Disorder in Terror-bereaved Family Members - The Mediator's Role of Coping Flexibility and Adjustment Disorder

The role of serial mediators of coping flexibility and adjustment disorder (AjD) symptoms in the association of assumptive worldviews and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) symptoms was examined among 214 Israeli terror-bereaved family members. The present findings expanded those of previous studies and revealed: Higher loss of assumptive worldviews predicted lower coping flexibility, which subsequently predicted higher AjD symptoms, which subsequently predicted higher PGD symptoms. Simple mediation of AjD symptoms was found in the link between assumptive worldviews and PGD symptoms. Professionals working with terror-bereaved families should target AjD symptoms and coping flexibility abilities in their assessments and interventions.

Automated summary

This study examined the relationship between assumptive worldviews, coping flexibility, adjustment disorder symptoms, and prolonged grief disorder symptoms among Israeli terror-bereaved family members. The findings showed that loss of assumptive worldviews predicted decreased coping flexibility, which then led to increased adjustment disorder symptoms and prolonged grief disorder symptoms. Additionally, adjustment disorder symptoms were found to mediate the link between assumptive worldviews and prolonged grief disorder symptoms. It is important for professionals working with terror-bereaved families to focus on assessing and intervening in adjustment disorder symptoms and coping flexibility abilities.