Posttraumatic Growth Among Siblings Bereaved by a Drug-Related Death: A Mixed-Method Study

Abstract

Losing a sibling to a drug-related death can lead not only to profound grief but also to unexpected psychological growth. This mixed-method study examined such growth among siblings bereaved by a drug-related death in Norway, combining survey data from 78 participants with interviews from ten siblings. Quantitative findings showed that appreciation of life and personal strengths were the most prominent domains of growth. Regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy explained most of the variance in growth when controlling for time since death, whereas social support did not make a unique contribution. Qualitative findings added depth by revealing how growth was experienced through closer family relationships and a heightened sense of empathy toward people in vulnerable situations. These accounts suggest that growth may involve a reorientation of values and deeper relational ties, aspects that standardized measures may not fully capture. Although based on a small and relatively homogeneous sample, the integrated results point to the importance of internal coping resources and family connectedness in fostering growth after a stigmatized loss. Further research should explore these mechanisms in more diverse populations and examine how they evolve over time.