Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
14:32
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
24.9K
Peer Support Services for Bereaved Survivors: A Systematic Review.
Paul T Bartone1, Jocelyn V Bartone2, John M Violanti3
11 Center for Technology & National Security Policy, National Defense University, Washington, DC, USA.
Omega
|September 6, 2017
Summary
Peer support services offer significant benefits for bereaved survivors of sudden death, aiding in grief reduction and enhancing well-being. These services, including accessible online programs, also positively impact peer support providers.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Bereavement Studies
- Social Support
Background:
- Sudden and unexpected deaths can lead to profound grief.
- Bereaved individuals often face challenges in accessing adequate support.
- Peer support offers a unique avenue for connection and healing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the evidence on the benefits of peer support services for bereaved survivors of sudden or unexpected death.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of peer support for adults experiencing loss.
- To explore the advantages of Internet-based peer support programs.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of 32 studies meeting inclusion criteria.
- Inclusion of studies focusing on adult bereavement from family, friend, or coworker deaths.
- Analysis of evidence regarding psychological and well-being outcomes.
Main Results:
- Most studies indicated peer support effectively reduces grief symptoms and enhances well-being and personal growth in bereaved survivors.
- Peer support providers also reported increased personal growth and life meaning.
- Internet-based peer support programs demonstrated benefits due to accessibility.
Conclusions:
- Peer support services provide consistent and significant benefits for bereaved survivors of sudden death.
- Peer support is particularly valuable for survivors of suicide loss, addressing stigma and isolation.
- The findings support the integration and expansion of peer support initiatives in bereavement care.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Bonanno's Theory of Grieving
1.1K
Grieving is a complex psychological and emotional process that varies significantly among individuals. George Bonanno's research on bereavement identified four distinct patterns of grieving, offering a nuanced understanding of how people cope with significant loss, such as the death of a spouse, over extended periods. These patterns — resilience, recovery, chronic dysfunction, and delayed grief — highlight the diversity in emotional responses and adaptive mechanisms.
Resilience
Resilience
1.1K
01:28Self-Help Support Groups
399
Self-help support groups are voluntary, community-based organizations that provide a platform for individuals with shared concerns to exchange support, insights, and practical strategies for coping with life challenges. Typically led by group members or paraprofessionals, these groups form a cornerstone of mental health care, especially in reaching populations that are underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
399
01:28Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques V
312
A social support system is a structured network of personal relationships that provides assistance to individuals facing various challenges, offering a buffer against psychological and physical stressors. This network may consist of family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, or other community members who provide resources and companionship. Social support can take many forms, including advice, emotional comfort, practical help, and companionship. Research indicates that these networks can...
312
01:20Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
582
Emotion-focused coping refers to a set of strategies aimed at managing the emotional impact of stressors, rather than directly addressing their causes. This approach involves altering one's emotional response to stressful situations to reduce their psychological effects. For example, individuals might talk with a friend or engage in activities like journaling to express their feelings. Such actions can help achieve emotional clarity or release, providing the psychological stability needed...
582
01:15Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
8.2K
The history of therapeutic communication can be traced back to Florence Nightingale, who emphasized the importance of developing trusting relationships with patients. She taught that the presence of nurses with patients results in therapeutic healing.
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
8.2K
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
793
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
793