title: An Evaluation of theLiving After LossIntervention - Part 2: Do Bereavement-Related Outcomes Vary by the Dynamics of Support Groups?
abstract: Group-based interventions for recently bereaved spouses may provide support and friendship through the commonality of experiences that are shared among the members of the group. This study compares the experiences and characteristics of persons in 35 different support groups from the Living After Loss (LAL) study, with particular emphasis on the question: Does the chemistry of the group affect the longer term adjustment outcomes associated with bereavement? Results suggest that, perhaps, those groups that foster the greatest sense of mutual support and have the most effective group leaders may be associated with more favourable bereavement-related outcome, especially stress related growth. Challenges associated with evaluating the effectiveness of group-based interventions are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology; University of Utah; Salt Lake City Utah USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Utz
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology; California State University San Bernardino; San Bernardino, California USA.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing & Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program; University of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caserta