Self-Focused Attention, Meaning, and Posttraumatic Growth: The Mediating Role of Positive and Negative Affect for Bereaved Women

Abstract

This study examined the mediating impact of positive and negative affect on the relationship between two distinct self-focusing tendencies (i.e., reflection and rumination) and meaning and posttraumatic growth among bereaved women. Supporting the study hypotheses, positive affect mediated the relationship between self-focusing tendencies and both meaning and posttraumatic growth. Reflection and rumination also had indirect effects on meaning through negative affect. The study model accounted for 25% of the variance in positive affect, 31% of the variance in negative affect, 43% of the variance in PTG, and 58% of the variance in meaning. These findings underlined the importance of intellectual self-reflection and positive affect in fostering personal growth and adjustment of bereaved women. Results and implications of the findings are discussed in the light of existing literature on bereavement and self-focusing tendencies.

Notes

Note. N = 187.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

Note. N = 187.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

Note. N = 187. Abbreviated terms under entries (e.g., REFLECT) refer to the parcels for each variable (i.e., Parcel 1, Parcel 2, and Parcel 3). RELOTH = relating to others, NEWPOS = new possibilities, PERSTR = personal strength, SPICHA = spiritual change, APPLIF = appreciation of life. All factor loadings are significant at p < .001.

^a These values are based on unstandardized beta coefficients. CI = confidence interval.

*p < .01; **p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Güler Boyraz

Güler Boyraz, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Tennessee State University. Her area of specialization is Counseling Psychology. Dr. Boyraz's research interests include bereavement adjustment, posttraumatic stress disorder, and posttraumatic growth.

Natalie Efstathiou

Natalie Efstathiou is currently a third year doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Murray State University. Her current research interests lie in the areas of personal growth; specifically, how virtues such as “honesty,” “humility,” “humor,” and “zest for life” can influence resilience and mental health.