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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• Adjustment disorder
• assumptive worldviews
• coping flexibility
• prolonged grief disorder
• terror-bereaved family members

Data availability statement

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yaira Hamama-Raz

Yaira Hamama Raz, PhD, is a social worker and full professor at the School of Social Work, Ariel University, Israel. Her research interests include loss and bereavement, trauma, and coping with chronic illnesses.

Yasmin Shaked

Yasmin Shaked, MSW, is a social worker, currently serving as a regional manager of the resilience centers in Judea and Samaria on behalf of the Israeli Trauma Coalition.