Psychosocial Processes Following Child Loss: Grief, Social Support, and Depression in Mothers

• Nurhan Naz ^[2] ; Dilan Malgaz Güçlü ^[1]
  1. [1] Iğdır Üniversitesi

     Iğdır Üniversitesi

     Turquía

     
  2. [2] Universidad Gelişim de Estambul
• Localización: International Journal of Psychological Research, ISSN 2011-2084, ISSN-e 2011-2084, Vol. 19, Nº. 1, 2026, págs. 43-53
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.21500/20112084.8469
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Procesos Psicosociales Tras la Pérdida de un Hijo: Duelo, Apoyo Social y Depresión en Madres.
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Ejemplar
• Resumen
  • español

    Este estudio examinó las relaciones entre el duelo, el apoyo social percibido y la depresión en madres que experimentaron la pérdida de un hijo. Se empleó un diseño transversal con una muestra de 300 madres en duelo (M edad = 36.20, DE = 8.46) residentes en Turquía. Los datos se recopilaron mediante la Escala de Duelo Bidimensional, el Inventario de Depresión de Beck y la Escala Multidimensional de Apoyo Social Percibido. Se utilizó un enfoque de Modelamiento de Ecuaciones Estructurales en dos pasos para evaluar el modelo propuesto, en el cual el duelo fue examinado como posible mediador de la relación entre el apoyo social percibido y la depresión. Los resultados indicaron que el apoyo social percibido se asoció negativamente tanto con los síntomas de duelo (β = −.41, p < .001) como con los síntomas depresivos (β = −.26, p < .001), mientras que el duelo se asoció positivamente con la depresión (β = .51, p < .001). El efecto indirecto del apoyo social percibido sobre la depresión a través del duelo fue estadísticamente significativo (β = −.21, p < .001, IC 90% [−.28, −.13]), lo que indica una mediación parcial. Los índices de ajuste del modelo se encontraron dentro de rangos aceptables (χ²/gl = 1.41, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .04). Estos hallazgos sugieren que la pérdida de un hijo constituye una experiencia psicosocial multidimensional con dimensiones emocionales, relacionales y cognitivas, y destacan el apoyo social percibido como un factor protector central en el ajuste posterior a la pérdida en madres en duelo.

  • English

    This study examined the relationships among grief, perceived social support, and depression in mothers who experienced the loss of a child. A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 300 bereaved mothers (Mage = 36.20, SD = 8.46) residing in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Two-Dimensional Grief Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. A two-step Structural Equation Modeling approach was used to test the proposed model, in which grief was examined as a potential mediator of the relationship between perceived social support and depression. Results indicated that perceived social support was negatively associated with both grief symptoms (β = −.41, p < .001) and depressive symptoms (β = −.26, p < .001), while grief was positively associated with depression (β = .51, p < .001). The indirect effect of perceived social support on depression through grief was statistically significant (β = −.21, p < .001, 90% CI [−.28, −.13]), indicating partial mediation. Model fit indices were within acceptable ranges (χ²/df = 1.41, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .04). These findings suggest that child loss represents a multidimensional psychosocial experience with emotional, relational, and cognitive dimensions, and highlight perceived social support as a central protective factor in post-loss adjustment among bereaved mothers.

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