Bereaved College Students: Social Support, Coping Style, Continuing Bonds, and Social Media Use as Predictors of Complicated Grief and Posttraumatic Growth

Abstract

Many college students experience the death of someone close to them and could be at risk for complicated grieving. Their primary sources of support may be unavailable as family members may live far away and their peers may be unprepared to respond to their grief. In addition, college students are exposed to a variety of stressors that could result in maladaptive coping. Furthermore, although most college-aged students use social media, little is known about its impact on grieving. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which social support, coping, continuing bonds, and social media use predicted complicated grief and posttraumatic growth in a sample of college students who had experienced an interpersonal loss. Participants (N = 258; 77.5% female, M age = 19.98, SD = 1.41) completed an online survey assessing the aforementioned constructs using Likert-type scales. Findings from two hierarchical regressions indicated that coping variables accounted for the greatest percentage of variance in grieving outcomes with avoidant-emotional coping being the most robust predictor of complicated grief and problem-focused coping accounting for considerable variance in posttraumatic growth (both were associated positively with the outcomes). As hypothesized, continuing bonds explained variance in both grieving outcomes with externalized continuing bonds and maintaining continuing bonds on social media predicting complicated grief and internalized continuing bonds contributing to posttraumatic growth (also all positively associated). Social support from family also was predictive of posttraumatic growth in the positive direction. Future research directions and implications for practice are discussed with the hope that this research might inform the development of interventions to assist college students who are grieving.

Investigation of the relationship between continuing bonds and adjustment after the death of a first‐degree family member by using the Multidimensional Continuing Bonds Scale

“…PCA results supported the 28‐item and four‐subscale structure and CFA confirmed this factor structure and item distribution in a different sample. Many studies to date have found positive relationships between continuing bonds and prolonged grief and depression symptoms (e.g., Currier et al, 2015; Gillies et al, 2015; Lipp & O'Brien, 2020). Consistent with the literature, MCBS scores were positively correlated with prolonged grief and depression symptoms both in Study 1 and Study 2.…”

“…Empirical studies investigating whether the role of continuing bonds in the grief process is adaptive have given inconsistent results. While most studies using various methodologies such as cross‐sectional, longitudinal, experience sampling have found positive correlations between continuing bonds and prolonged grief symptoms in different cultures and age groups (e.g., Black et al, 2020; Lipp & O'Brien, 2020; Scholtes & Browne, 2015), others have associated continuing bonds with variables such as growth and meaning reconstruction (e.g., Black et al, 2020; Field & Filanosky, 2010; Gillies et al, 2015). Moreover, most qualitative studies have reported that participants regarded continuing bonds as positive experiences that comfort them (e.g., Foster et al, 2011; Stein et al, 2018).…”

“Their Page is Still Up”: Social Media and Coping with Loss

“…However, for individuals in earlier stages of grief-characterized by denial, anger, and depression-these reminders may elicit negative feelings. It may also be that those who view the account presence as a negative are more likely to use the account to maintain a connection with the deceased reminiscent of a real-life relationship, as this has been associated with the development of complicated grief (Lipp & O'Brien, 2020). It may be valuable for clinicians or others helping young people cope with loss to inquire if grievers find the presence of the account to be a positive or negative, and develop ways to help them optimize their use of SM based on this.…”

How Social Support from University Help Students Cope with Post Traumatic Stress

“…Future research should focus on explaining why and how these two sorts of social support may be beneficial to students' mental health in the first place. According to the study, students who receive emotional support from family members are more likely to achieve academic success [8]. It is important to encourage both parents and children to communicate more effectively, among other things.…”