The Relationship between Emotions in Mental Imagery and Severity of Prolonged Grief Symptoms: Role of Intrusiveness

Abstract

Grief is a universal and painful part of life. While most individuals adapt well to grief, approximately 11% develop Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), characterized by severe and enduring loss-related distress. Despite distressing mental images not being a diagnostic criterion for PGD, intrusive images related to a loss are commonly reported. This study explored the relationship between emotions evoked by grief-related mental imagery and the grief symptom severity in bereaved individuals. Negative emotions (ie., yearning, anger, guilt, shame, fear) and the positive emotion joy, were hypothesized to be positively associated with grief severity and to different degrees. Additionally, the study examined whether the intrusiveness of mental images moderates this relationship. The sample included 174 participants who completed an online survey assessing mental imagery and grief symptoms. Results revealed that negative emotions evoked by mental imagery were significantly associated with more severe grief symptoms. However, positive emotions did not influence grief severity. Intrusiveness did not moderate the relationship between emotions and grief severity. These findings highlight the importance of addressing negative emotions associated with grief-related mental imagery in the treatment of PGD. Understanding the specific emotions triggered by mental imagery could help with more targeted interventions aimed at alleviating grief reactions. Future research should explore the role of vividness in mental imagery and a broader range of emotions in grief reactions. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the association between emotions and grief-related mental imagery.