Abstract:
The purposes of this research were to develop and validate a structural equation model of posttraumatic growth (PTG) of bereaved students from civil unrest in southernmost provinces of Thailand with empirical data and to examine the effect of mindfulness, wisdom, and perceived social support with PTG. Participants were 281 undegraduates, who were studying in the Academic Year 2020, who lost their loved one from the unrest situations. The research tool was an online questionnaire. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and analyses of structural equation model by using program R and LISREL program version 8.72. The result of validating the structural equation model of PTG suggested that the model fit with the empirical data (Chi-square= 66.07, p= 0.246, df= 59, GFI= .96, AGFI= .95, RMR= .69, RMSEA= .021). Variables in the model accounted for 27% of the total variance of PTG. Mindfulness and perceived social support had significant direct effects on PTG of bereaved students at .01 levels, with effect sizes .32 and .31 respectively. Application of this model to develop PTG should entail mindfulness training and enhancement of perceived social support. Wisdom should be studied further.