Coping With Loss: Understanding Growth and Grief in Kashmiri Students

Abstract

Youth in Kashmir experience considerable loss during their formative years as a result of ongoing exposure to severe sociopolitical conflict and devastating natural disasters. This study identified the losses experienced by 204 Kashmiri college students, their adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, and the degree to which they experienced symptoms of complicated grief and posttraumatic growth. These predominantly Muslim students relied on their faith and spiritual practices to cope with their losses. Complicated grief symptoms were associated with the number of losses experienced, the severity of associated distress, and two types of coping (meaning focused and maladaptive). In addition, posttraumatic growth was explained by the number of losses and distress, as well as coping strategy (problem focused, meaning focused, or maladaptive). We discuss clinical implications and recommendations for future research.