Bereaved Parents and Support Group Participation

Abstract

The study explored reasons why some bereaved parents participate in a self-help/support group while others do not. Data about forty-three support group participants and forty-two nonparticipants and their deceased children were obtained through questionnaires and telephone interviews. Over 76 percent of nonparticipants were found to have lost their child after a period of anticipatory grief while 80 percent of participants lost their child suddenly or without adequate forewarning. Having adequate support in their immediate environment was the reason stated by most for not joining a group. The majority of group participants mentioned that they needed a place to share grief with other bereaved parents even though their family and friends were supportive. It appears that bereaved parents are more likely to join a support group when they experience a particularly traumatic loss and do not find others who have suffered a similar loss in their usual social network.