(2025) Science and education, 3, 14-20. Odessa.

Olena Kosyanova,
Candidate of Psychological Sciences, 
Associate Professor at the Department of Theory and Methods of Practical Psychology, 
The state institution «South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”,
26, Staroportofrankivska, Str., Odesa, Ukraine, 
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9532-9981 

Tetyana Lazorenko,
Candidate of Psychological Sciences,
Associate Professor at the Department of Theory and Methods of Practical Psychology,
The state institution «South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”,
26 Staroportofrankivska Str., Odesa, Ukraine,
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0416-4104 

Anna Kozlova,
Master's Degree Candidate 053 Psychology at the
Department of Theory and Methods of Practical Psychology
The state institution «South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky”,
26 Staroportofrankivska Str., Odesa, Ukraine

PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF EXPERIENCING IRREPARABLE LOSS: EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

The study examines psychological correlates of coping with irreparable loss, focusing on empirical relationships between perceived stress, trauma impact appraisal, and coping behavior in bereaved individuals. In a sample of 35 adults who lost a close relative, friend, or acquaintance during wartime, standardized measures were applied: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Results showed that higher subjective stress was strongly associated with more intense posttraumatic symptoms; notably, perceived stress correlated positively with intrusive memories (r≈0.84–0.97, p<0.01) and overall PTSD symptom severity (r≈0.86–0.97, p<0.01). Moreover, individuals with elevated stress favored emotion-focused coping and less frequently used problem-solving strategies (negative correlation with task-oriented coping, r≈–0.34, p<0.05). The loss of a close relative produced the highest levels of stress and PTSD symptoms, along with predominant emotion-oriented coping, while losing an acquaintance was marked by lower stress and more task-focused coping. These findings underscore the critical role of subjective stress appraisal in grief and the need to foster flexible coping. The study’s practical implication is the support for specialized therapeutic programs that integrate cognitive-behavioral, trauma-focused, and existential approaches to help bereaved clients adapt, process grief, and restore emotional equilibrium.

bereavement, perceived stress, posttraumatic stress, coping strategies, grief, correlation analysis

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