title: Positive and negative experiences from grief group participation: a qualitative study.
abstract: This article presents qualitative interview data from the research project "Grief Support Groups in Norway" (2009-2011). The aim of this part of the study was to investigate grief group participant's experiences, benefits, and satisfaction with the grief group. Positive aspects were to meet with peers, share thoughts and feelings, normalization, exchange advice and information, and share hope. On the negative side were unfulfilled needs or expectations, additional personal stress, and unsatisfactory structure, organization, and leadership. Importantly, lack of screening caused bereaved with complicated grief to participate in groups that were non-therapeutic, leaving them with insufficient help. Also, group leaders were not always considered knowledgeable of group processes and impacts of different organizational and structural factors on groups. Conclusively, participants' needs and expectations should be considered when planning and organizing groups, in order to conduct helpful groups and increase the experience of a positive outcome.
authors.affiliation: Center for Crisis Psychology, Bergen, Norway. kari@krisepsyk.no
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dyregrov
authors.affiliation: Center for Crisis Psychology, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Atle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dyregrov
authors.affiliation: Center for Crisis Psychology, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Iren
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Johnsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009769:Object Attachment; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*