Traumatic Grief and Suicide Cognitions Among Turkish Older Adults: The Serial Mediation Role of Grief Cognitions and Geriatric Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the serial mediating roles of grief cognitions and geriatric depressive symptoms in the relationship between traumatic grief and suicide cognitions among Turkish older adults. In this study, the personal information form, Traumatic Grief Inventory-Self Report (TGI-SR), Grief Cognitions Questionnaire (GCQ), Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-15) and the Suicide Cognitions Scale-Revised (SCS-R) were used. The analysis of the data obtained in the study was conducted Pearson’s correlation, along with the serial mediation methods (model 6). The findings of the study indicated that the relationship between traumatic grief and suicide cognitions was entirely indirect, occurring through a serial mediation mechanism involving grief cognitions and geriatric depressive symptoms (r² = .807). These findings indicate that traumatic grief is a complex construct intertwined with grief-related cognitions and geriatric depressive symptoms, which constitute significant risk factors for suicide cognitions among older adults.