Pathways Toward Healing: Examining the Role of Emotion Regulation in Longitudinal Expressions of Complicated Grief and Multisystemic Resilience Resources Among Bereaved Youth

The death of a loved one is a profoundly impactful event, especially for youth who may lose a vital source of support during critical developmental stages. This study investigated the trajectories of complicated grief and multisystemic resilience resources among bereaved youth over a six-month period, considering the roles of emotion regulation strategies (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal), potentially traumatic events (PTEs), and various sociodemographic and loss-related factors. The present study utilized self-report data from treatment-seeking bereaved youth (N = 106). Parallel process latent growth curve modeling (PP- LGCM) was used to explore individual differences in grief and resilience trajectories. Post-hoc moderation analysis examined nuanced relationships identified through PP-LGCM. The results showed significant variability in initial levels and trajectories of both complicated grief symptoms and multisystemic resilience resources. Higher initial levels of complicated grief were associated with a slower rate of decline, suggesting persistent challenges for youth experiencing intense grief. Multisystemic resilience resources exhibited stability over time, with significant individual differences highlighting the complexity of resilience processes. Sociodemographic and loss-related variables, such as gender and time since loss, significantly predicted initial levels of complicated grief and multisystemic resilience resources, while closeness to the deceased was a significant predictor of the trajectory for multisystemic resilience resources. Emotion regulation strategies showed nuanced effects: expressive suppression approached significance as a predictor of resilience, and its interaction with cognitive reappraisal moderated the relationship between closeness to the deceased and resilience. These findings underscore the importance of personalized, multifaceted approaches in supporting bereaved youth, considering the diverse experiences and coping mechanisms that influence their adjustment post-loss. The study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between grief, resilience resources, and emotion regulation, offering insights for clinical intervention and assessment to enhance bereavement support services