Bereaved Parents and Support Group Participation

1996 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reiko Schwab
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Anticipatory Grief ◽  
Traumatic Loss ◽  
Group Participation ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Bereaved Parents

The study explored reasons why some bereaved parents participate in a self-help/support group while others do not. Data about forty-three support group participants and forty-two nonparticipants and their deceased children were obtained through questionnaires and telephone interviews. Over 76 percent of nonparticipants were found to have lost their child after a period of anticipatory grief while 80 percent of participants lost their child suddenly or without adequate forewarning. Having adequate support in their immediate environment was the reason stated by most for not joining a group. The majority of group participants mentioned that they needed a place to share grief with other bereaved parents even though their family and friends were supportive. It appears that bereaved parents are more likely to join a support group when they experience a particularly traumatic loss and do not find others who have suffered a similar loss in their usual social network.

Relationships Between Psychosocial Factors and Quality of Life for Adults Who Stutter

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Group Identification ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Group Participation ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Adults Who Stutter

Purpose In this study, the author examined the relationship of social support, empowerment, self-help support group participation, and group identification to quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Two-hundred forty-nine adults who stutter completed a web-based survey, including measures of social support, empowerment, self-help support group participation, group identification, and quality of life. Results After controlling for demographic and stuttering parameters, both empowerment in the self-esteem/self-efficacy domain and social support from family significantly predicted quality of life in adults in the sample. Conclusions Increased self-esteem/self-efficacy and social support from family relates to improved quality of life in adults who stutter, independent of stuttering severity. Treatments that increase feelings of self-esteem/self-efficacy and strengthen social support from the family should be considered for individuals who struggle to cope with stuttering in order to enhance their quality of life.

Group Experiences and Individual Differences in Stuttering

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 4335-4350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth E. Tichenor ◽  
J. Scott Yaruss
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Life Outcomes ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Group Experiences ◽  
History Of ◽  
Adults Who Stutter

Purpose This study explored group experiences and individual differences in the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings perceived by adults who stutter. Respondents' goals when speaking and prior participation in self-help/support groups were used to predict individual differences in reported behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Method In this study, 502 adults who stutter completed a survey examining their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in and around moments of stuttering. Data were analyzed to determine distributions of group and individual experiences. Results Speakers reported experiencing a wide range of both overt behaviors (e.g., repetitions) and covert behaviors (e.g., remaining silent, choosing not to speak). Having the goal of not stuttering when speaking was significantly associated with more covert behaviors and more negative cognitive and affective states, whereas a history of self-help/support group participation was significantly associated with a decreased probability of these behaviors and states. Conclusion Data from this survey suggest that participating in self-help/support groups and having a goal of communicating freely (as opposed to trying not to stutter) are associated with less negative life outcomes due to stuttering. Results further indicate that the behaviors, thoughts, and experiences most commonly reported by speakers may not be those that are most readily observed by listeners.

Stuttering-Related Podcasts: Audio-Based Self-Help for People Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 1131-1138
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Dignazio ◽  
Megan M. Kenny ◽  
Erik X. Raj ◽  
Kyle D. Pelkey
Keyword(s):  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Group Leaders ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Group Members

Purpose It is known that people who stutter (PWS) benefit from self-help experiences, such as attending support groups or conferences. However, limited research has been done to explore the listening of stuttering-related podcasts as a form of self-help for PWS. This study seeks to understand the reasons why PWS listen to stuttering-related podcasts and provide descriptions of their listening experiences. Method Thirty-three PWS who have listened to stuttering-related podcasts were recruited to participate in an online survey that included multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Responses were analyzed and grouped into descriptive themes. Results Participants reported listening to stuttering-related podcasts as a way to gain information and perspective. They also reported experiences that fit themes of empowerment and camaraderie, as a result of listening. Conclusions Stuttering-related podcasts seem to be a positive self-help tool for PWS. Stuttering support group leaders and/or speech-language pathologists may consider introducing their group members or clients who stutter to this type of audio-based self-help experience.

scholarly journals Does Self Help Group Participation Lead to Asset Creation?

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1674-1682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjula Bali Swain ◽  
Adel Varghese
Keyword(s):  
Group Participation ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Asset Creation ◽  
Self Help Group

Bereaved Parents and the Compassionate Friends: Affiliation and Healing

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Klass
Keyword(s):  
Research Method ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Bereaved Parents ◽  
Helping Others ◽  
Self Help Groups ◽  
Supportive Community ◽  
Professional Interventions ◽  
Self Help Group ◽  
Do So

This article is an attempt to describe the Compassionate Friends (TCF), and self-help group, as an effective intervention in the severe bereavement after the death of a child. The research method is participant observation. Three decisions form the framework of the description: the decision to attend the group, the decision to affiliate, and the decision to transform oneself into a helper within the group. The decision to attend seems to be rooted in a variety of expectations, supported by a variety of experiences with professional interventions or with other self-help groups. Affiliation has, first, a cathectic dimension that entails a unity with those whose lives have also been shattered, an appropriate object on which to attach the energy formerly given to the child, and a sense of family in a supportive community. Second, affiliation has an experiential dimension that is an attempt to develop an existential stance in a problematic world based on solutions to concrete problems that are shared among the members. The decision to become a helper is key to the TCF process, for it is the concept that helping others is the best way to help the self that allows the cathectic dimension to become complete in reinvestment and allows the experiential dimension to change from using the experience of others to sharing one's own experience. As time progresses, some members move to formal organizational leadership while others tend to become less regular in attendance, though they do so with some ambivalence. The article ends with the claim that analysis of other interventions using schemas similar to those used in this study could be done.

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

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-160 ◽  
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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document