Prolonged Grief,Posttraumatic Growth,and Attachment Among Bereaved Families Following the 2020 Beirut Explosion

Abstract

On August 4, 2020, an explosion at the Beirut port tore half of Lebanon's capital and left 233 dead and 6,500 injured. This blast led to the loss of loved ones, causing many survivors to endure both trauma and bereavement. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the correlation between attachment, prolonged grief, and posttraumatic growth in Lebanese adults who have experienced the traumatic loss of a loved one due to the explosion. The results showed a positive correlation between secure attachment style and prolonged grief. Women and individuals with a higher financial status had lower prolonged grief scores. Being younger and unmarried were associated with higher posttraumatic growth. Contrary to previous studies, secure attachment did not play the role of a protective factor against prolonged grief, nor promote posttraumatic growth. The findings indicate a nuanced influence that attachment can have on posttraumatic growth and prolonged grief.