Grief and Coping of Family Members to Loved Ones’ Suicide: A Correlational Study

Abstract

With the increasing rates of suicide in one of the provinces in the Philippines, there is a crucial need to research the levels of grief and coping with the bereaved families for prevention, mitigation, and intervention for further suicide cases. This descriptive-correlational research seeks to describe the socio-demographic profile of the 33 respondents; to measure the level of grief and coping of family members who were left by their loved ones who committed suicide; to identify the significant relationship between grief and coping with the demographic variables; and to find the strength of the correlation between grief and coping. Utilizing the Grief Experience Questionnaire and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory revealed low grief experience and moderate coping, respectively. Further, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation shows a significant relationship between grief and demographic variables such as municipality and relations to the victim. Similarly, coping is also associated with civil status. Likewise, there is a direct and strong relationship between grief and coping. Thus, the present study concludes that grief can be surpassed with an appropriate coping strategy. Comprehensive intervention programs such as psychoeducation, access to mental health services, financial support, and promotion of family values for bereaved families are suggested.