Job Loss-Related Complicated Grief and its Relationship to Positive Cognitions, Self-Esteem, and Locus of Control

Abstract

Relatively few studies within the job loss-related complicated grief (CG) literature have focused on the protective factors for developing CG symptoms. Furthermore, little is known about the influencing factors on CG in this relation. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the positive factors for developing job loss-related CG symptoms. More precisely, the three protective factors examined were self-esteem, positive cognitions, and locus of control. The final sample consisted of 22 mostly Estonian people (M = 32.1, SD = 12.60, range 22-63; 95.5% female) who had lost their jobs involuntarily. The participants completed online questionnaires concerning the study variables. Results rejected all four hypotheses; for the first three, all the correlations were statistically non-significant and negligible. Whereas the last hypothesis indicated that self-esteem had the strongest effect on job loss-related CG, although the result was statistically non-significant. The results can be a good foundation for future studies to elaborate on these variables in association with job loss-related CG. Increasing understanding of this phenomenon could aid in locating at-risk individuals, developing competent preventive measures, and developing potential therapy tools. Furthermore, effective CG treatment may contribute to lower unemployment rates by allowing individuals to engage in job-seeking behavior and other positive activities.