The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy & Complicated Grief After Job Loss: The Mediating Effect of Negative Cognitions

Abstract

Job loss has been linked with negative emotional experiences, and different types of mental health conditions, one of them is complicated grief. There is an increased number of research that investigates symptoms of job loss-related complicated grief (JLCG). Yet, still little is known about what might have a positive or negative relationship with JLCG symptoms. For this reason, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between complicated grief symptoms after a job loss, self-efficacy, and negative cognitions. This study will contribute to the knowledge on the potential factors that might be related to the likelihood of experiencing complicated grief symptoms after job loss. The design of the current research was cross- sectional. In total, 91 Turkish participants (35.2% male, 64.8% female) completed the online survey. Results showed that there is a negative significant relationship between self-efficacy and JLCG symptoms. Further, mediation analysis found that the negative cognitions act as a mediator weakening the relationship between self-efficacy and symptoms of JLCG. These results add to the literature by suggesting that there is a negative relationship between self- efficacy and JLCG symptoms, and negative cognitions can associate with JLCG symptoms.