Satisfaction with bereavement support groups. Evaluation of the Norwegian Bereavement Care Project.

Abstract

The Norwegian Bereavement Care Project is an ongoing national effort to develop local support measures for the bereaved. An evaluation of the project is currently being carried out, involving 164 participants of bereavement support groups. The findings indicate that the participants are highly satisfied with the groups and perceive them as helpful in regard to their grief. Bereaved parents are more favourable towards the support groups than are widowed people, and participants who have suffered an unexpected death are more satisfied with the groups than are those bereaved from an expected death. Furthermore, a number of structural characteristics of the groups are relatively strongly associated with participants' satisfaction, particularly how the group is led. Finally, the extent to which participants receive various sources of support is also associated with their satisfaction. Most important is the amount of emotional help and support they receive from the group.