A Hospice-Based Bereavement Support Group Using Creative Arts

There is evidence of the value of individual creative arts (art, drama, music, etc.) in helping people to cope with bereavement. However, there is a gap in the research on the effectiveness of the intentional, combined use of creative arts activities in bereavement support group intervention for adults. This article describes an exploratory study which assessed the effectiveness of using creative arts activities in an eight session support group intervention. A waiting list, randomized control trial supplemented by limited qualitative data was used. Evidence was found that the intervention did help participants’ ability to move between loss and restoration coping when they attended at least six of the eight sessions. However, the use of creative arts activities appears to be more suitable for some people than for others.

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Bereavement support group intervention for HIV+ and at risk women--A preliminary report

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e536912011-113 ◽

1995 ◽

Author(s):

K. Goodkin ◽

N. T. Blaney ◽

R. Nelson ◽

A. Fletcher ◽

M. Uselmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Support Group ◽

Group Intervention ◽

Preliminary Report ◽

Bereavement Support ◽

Bereavement Support Group

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A Bereavement Support Group Intervention Is Longitudinally Associated with Salutary Effects on the CD4 Cell Count and Number of Physician Visits

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology ◽

10.1128/cdli.5.3.382-391.1998 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 382-391 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Karl Goodkin ◽

Daniel J. Feaster ◽

Deshratn Asthana ◽

Nancy T. Blaney ◽

Mahendra Kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Count ◽

Support Group ◽

Group Intervention ◽

Plasma Cortisol ◽

Bereavement Support ◽

Cd4 Cell Count ◽

Bereavement Support Group ◽

Cd4 Cell ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT A randomized, controlled, clinical trial was conducted to examine the impact of a semistructured, 10-week, once weekly, 90-min/session bereavement support group intervention on immunological, neuroendocrine, and clinical health status in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-seropositive (HIV-1+) and HIV-1-seronegative (HIV-1−) homosexual men, compared to a standard of care control condition. A total of 119 homosexual men (74 HIV-1+and 45 HIV-1−) were assessed at baseline, 10 weeks, and 6 months follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up assessment, the intervention groups exhibited significant beneficial effects compared to controls on changes in CD4 cell, total T-lymphocyte, and total lymphocyte counts, when baseline levels, antiretroviral medication use, CDC stage of disease, and other potentially confounding factors were accounted for. There was no statistically significant effect on the CD4/CD8 ratio or on the CD8 cell count. The effect on CD4 cell count was associated with group attendance and with changes in plasma cortisol level. Plasma cortisol levels decreased significantly among intervention subjects, compared to controls. A significantly reduced number of health care visits over the 6-month follow-up period among the intervention subjects supported the clinical relevance of the immunological changes observed for both HIV-1+ and HIV-1−individuals. These results indicate that behavioral interventions may have salutary immunological and clinical health effects following bereavement among HIV-1-infected individuals. The effect in HIV-1− individuals suggests that this bereavement support group intervention might have similar salutary effects in the general population. Potential effects of such interventions on clinical HIV disease progression are of interest and should be studied.

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Experience of ‘overcoming the pain of family loss of suicide’ through suicide bereavement support group: SPACE experiential model of family survivors

Journal of Family Relations ◽

10.21321/jfr.22.3.73 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 73-101

Author(s):

Chonghee Seo ◽

Jiyoung Park ◽

Minjeong Baek

Keyword(s):

Support Group ◽

Bereavement Support ◽

Suicide Bereavement ◽

Bereavement Support Group ◽

Family Loss

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Evaluating a bereavement support group

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951508000072 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 43-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nancy C. Maruyama ◽

Clarisa V. Atencio

Keyword(s):

General Hospital ◽

Support Group ◽

Negative Emotions ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Bereavement Support ◽

Men And Women ◽

Before And After ◽

Bereavement Support Group

ABSTRACTObjective:To assess the feasibility of an 8-week bereavement support group in a general hospital setting.Methods:We assessed grief and mood before and after an 8-week bereavement support group and compared dropouts to completers. Forty-seven participants filled out mood and grief questionnaires. Scores were compared with norms, then baseline and follow-up scores were analyzed by paired t tests. Fifteen dropouts' scores were compared with completers' baseline scores.Results:Participants' grief improved, as did depression in women but not men. Women dropouts scored significantly higher on Anger, Tension/Anxiety.Significance of results:Findings suggest men and women respond differently to bereavement groups. Bereaved individuals with high anger and tension may require interventions addressing their particular needs, with a focus on acceptance of negative emotions.

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Coping with the Ultimate Deprivation: Narrative Themes in a Parental Bereavement Support Group

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/om.63.2.c ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 141-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Laura R. Umphrey ◽

Joanne Cacciatore

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Parental Bereavement ◽

Group Setting ◽

Bereavement Support ◽

Bereaved Parents ◽

Bereavement Support Group ◽

Life Circumstances ◽

Group Meetings

Support groups are often used to help individuals cope with challenging and unusual life circumstances through narration. Yet, little is known about specific meta-communication within a support group setting and in what ways these interactions may benefit participants. This study uncovers narrative themes that were expressed during a series of support group meetings specific to bereaved parents. Three central narratives were revealed in the analysis including the death story narrative, coping/negotiating narrative, and connecting through communication with others narrative. This research underscores the vital outlet that the support group serves for participants and the communicative means by which subjective healing can occur.

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