Intrapersonal resources and the effectiveness of self-help groups for bereaved older adults

The relative impact of three intrapersonal resources (self-esteem, competencies and life satisfaction) and the duration of a self-help group intervention on levels of depression and grief were examined over time among a sample of 295 recently bereaved older adults. In general, the resources examined had a greater direct influence on outcomes than the intervention. Also, those with lower competencies reported reduced depression and grief with greater meeting attendance, whereas the opposite was at first true for those with high competencies. Depression eventually decreased, however, among those with high competencies who continued to attend self-help group meetings for more than 8 weeks. Although bereavement self-help groups can aid those who may be deficient in selected skills, it is equally important to emphasize ways the bereaved can more effectively use those strengths that they may already possess in order to facilitate adaptation.