Coping with life changes--a preventive social work approach

Life changes requiring substantial social readjustment were utilized to identify a population presumed to be at risk. Respondents who incurred two or more life changes, e.g., death (family member or close friend), divorce, separation, loss of work, incapacitating illness of or accident to self or close family member, imprisonment and/or retirement, in the previous 6 weeks to 1 year and who had not received formal treatment were invited to the intervention. Intervention consisted of cognitive and affective measures utilizing didactic and small-group dynamics. Substantial verbal and nonverbal support was provided. A semi-crossover design was utilized. Less depression, anxiety, and interpersonal (over) sensitivity was indicated. Participants with more life changes as well as those who had experienced death in the family and/or of a close friend improved most.