Ethnic group and social support contribution to posttraumatic growth after sudden spousal loss among Jewish, Muslim, and Druze widows in Israel

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the contribution of ethnic group status and social support to posttraumatic growth (PTG) among widows after sudden spousal loss. Participants included 184 widows from three ethnic groups: 59 (32.3%) Jewish, 58 (31.7%) Muslim, and 66 (36%) Druze.Information was gathered via a demographic questionnaire, PTG Inventory, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Analysis of covariance was used to test ethnic group status differences in social support, controlling for demographic variables. Hierarchical linear models were used to assess groups differences in the study outcome variables. The results showed that the PTG total score was higher for Jewish widows than for Muslim and Druze widows, with a null difference between the latter two, and social support contributed to increased PTG among Jewish widows more than among Muslim and Druze widows, with no significant association between social support and PTG among Druze widows. The highest PTG levels were observed among widows from modern individualistic cultural backgrounds, compared with traditional collectivist, cultural backgrounds after sudden spousal death. The social support system may be a pathway to enhance PTG among widows in traditional collectivist societies.

‘Now I Have Dreams in Place of the Nightmares’: An Updated Systematic Review of Post-Traumatic Growth Among Refugee Populations

“…Kashyap and Hussain (2018) caution that the PTGI was developed in a western culture, and originally standardized on a sample of American students. As western societies prioritize individual needs over collective needs (Khatib et al, 2021), the PTGI may, thus, overlook or misinterpret the collectivist values of non-western cultures (Buse et al, 2013). To address these limitations and achieve a more thorough and accurate understanding of diverse PTG experiences, future research with refugee populations may benefit from using culturally validated measures of PTG.…”

Factors mitigate the effect of widowhood’s mental health impact: A longitudinal test from individual, familial, and social perspectives.

“…Li et al, 2005). Specifically, widowhood undermines older adults’ intimate social ties and connections and denies them access to adequate emotional support (Khatib et al, 2021; Peng et al, 2022). Moreover, losing a spouse may also diminish instrumental support and increase the financial burden on older adults, triggering psychological maladjustment (Ghesquiere et al, 2016; Jiang et al, 2023).…”