How do psychological flexibility and complicated grief contribute to the subjective well-being of bereaved parents?

Abstract

Parental bereavement poses profound mental health challenges, including diminished psychological well-being. This study examined both risk and resilience factors among older bereaved parents, specifically, complicated grief (a persistent and pervasive grief response) and psychological flexibility (the ability to accept and endure opposing experiences). Participants included 105 bereaved parents (aged 48-88, M = 64.06, SD = 9.93) who were pair-matched with 105 non-bereaved parents. Questionnaires assessed complicated grief, psychological flexibility, and subjective well-being. Hierarchical regression models revealed that psychological flexibility was associated with higher subjective well-being among bereaved parents exclusively. A mediation analysis revealed that among bereaved parents, psychological flexibility was associated with reduced complicated grief, which in turn contributed to greater subjective well-being. These findings suggest that the capacity to integrate conflicting experiences may facilitate a healthier adjustment to grief. Hence, clinicians and decision-makers may develop interventions that encompass both the positive and negative experiences of bereaved parents.