A Loss by Suicide: The Relationship Between Meaning-Making, Post-Traumatic Growth, and Complicated Grief.

This article investigates the mediating role of meaning-making in the relationship between post-traumatic growth (PTG) and complicated grief (CG) symptoms among 81 undergraduate college students in the United States who experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide. Meaning-making, defined as the process of integrating a stressful life event into one's life narrative, was found to fully mediate the positive relationship between PTG and CG, suggesting that survivors can simultaneously experience growth and distress following suicide bereavement. The study highlights the complexity of grief after suicide, emphasizing the importance of meaning-centered clinical interventions to support survivors in processing complicated grief while fostering post-traumatic growth. Limitations include the sample's demographic homogeneity and reliance on self-report measures, indicating a need for further research across diverse populations and methodologies.