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The Shared Experience Help the Bereavement to Flow: A Family Support Group Evaluation
Ingela Henoch1,2, Christina Berg3, Inger Benkel4
1The Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Health and Care Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
|October 3, 2015
Summary
Childhood parental death is stressful. Family support groups help families openly share feelings and facilitate bereavement, indicating their value in coping with grief.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Family Studies
Background:
- Parental death during childhood is a significant stressor for families.
- Bereavement impacts all family members, requiring tailored support.
- Existing support systems may not adequately address the unique needs of grieving families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate families' experiences with a structured family support group program.
- To assess the impact of shared experiences on the bereavement process.
- To understand how support groups influence family communication regarding grief.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of a seven-session family support group.
- Groups were segmented by age (children, teenagers, young adults) and parents.
- A consistent topic was addressed across all age-specific groups.
Main Results:
- Participants reported high satisfaction with the support groups.
- Shared experiences within the groups were found to facilitate the bereavement process.
- Families experienced increased openness about feelings within their own family unit.
Conclusions:
- Family support groups can be an effective intervention for families experiencing parental death.
- These groups promote open communication and shared coping mechanisms during bereavement.
- Support groups offer a valuable resource for the entire family unit navigating grief.
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