Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence, Personality, and grief in Bereaved Mothers

Grief following the loss of a child is one of the most intense and complex emotional experiences a person can endure. This study examined how emotional intelligence and personality traits relate to grief-related suffering in bereaved mothers. A total of 56 Brazilian women completed measures of grief, emotional regulation, emotional understanding, empathy, and the Big Five personality traits. Results showed that higher emotional regulation, greater emotional understanding, and higher levels of extraversion were significantly associated with lower grief severity. Network and regression analyses revealed that emotional understanding acted as a central variable linking personality, emotional competencies, and grief outcomes. These findings suggest that emotional intelligence, particularly regulation and understanding, plays a protective role in the grieving process, while extraversion appears to enhance adaptive coping. The study highlights the importance of considering both emotional and personality factors when designing supportive interventions for bereaved mothers.