Rumination, gratitude, and positive and negative affect as predictors of posttraumatic growth in COVID-19 bereaved persons

The human losses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic caused exceptional challenges for individuals. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of intrusive and deliberate rumination, positive and negative affect, and gratitude on PTG (posttraumatic growth) through an explanatory model in people who experienced the loss of a loved one by COVID-19 during the pandemic. It consisted of a cross-sectional study in which 139 people between 18 and 61 years old, residents of several Mexican states, participated and responded to the instruments. The results showed that both intrusive rumination and positive affect play an important role in the development of PTG in COVID-19 bereaved during the pandemic, with deliberate rumination, negative affect and gratitude as mediating variables, explaining 35% of the variance in PTG. In conclusion, people who suffered the loss of a loved one during the pandemic are at greater risk of experiencing negative reactions; however, the struggle to cope with the stressful situation may also result in positive outcomes for individuals through different thinking styles, which may contribute to a better elaboration of the situation and thus help people to overcome adversity.