Social Support and Coping Strategies as Moderators of Prolonged Grief Disorder: A Systematic Review

Cyrene Rhesa Benedict Benedict Kumar, Mohd Akif Farhan Ahmad Basri

Abstract


Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is an emotional distress characterized by identity disruption and intense yearning following loss. As the prevalence of PGD rises, there is a need in understanding social support and coping strategies as factors that moderate the symptoms of PGD. This review synthesized 17 empirical articles that were published from 2018 to 2025 focusing on moderation analysis that evaluated social support and coping strategies as moderators to PGD. Results presented that emotional social support buffers PGD by improving the quality of life, though the varying components of social support in relation to the severity of loss may impact PGD presentation. The lack of social support was found to be linked to anxiety and PGD, though in specific situations of traumatic loss, social support may be insufficient in reducing grief. Maladaptive coping strategies characterized by high experiential avoidance, negative religious coping and over-emphasis on problem-focused coping may exacerbate grief, though meaning-making and personality traits like hardiness are able to improve well-being. There is a significant disparity in the populations represented in which there is underrepresentation of the Asian population and diverse age as well as gender groups. Their findings demonstrate the urgent need of longitudinal, diverse sociocultural and standardized diagnostic elements for future studies in developing tailored and relevant intervention and resources.

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References


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