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

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 ENT#091;-.28, -.13ENT#093;), indicating partial mediation. Model fit indices were within acceptable ranges (χZ/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.