Ensam är stark? : En kvalitativ studie om efterlevande personers erfarenheter av omgivningens stöd i samband med en förlust och av att ha delagit i en sorggrupp

• Main Author: Edvinsson, Elin
• Format: Others
• Language: Swedish
• Published: Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för socialt arbete - Socialhögskolan 2011
• Subjects: social support; grief; griefwork; support groups; grief groups; bereavement; socialt stöd; sorg; sorgarbete; stödgrupper; sorggrupper; förlust
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-70153

The aim of this qualitative study was to examine bereaved individuals’ experiences of support from their social networks and participation in support groups. The theoretical framework is based on theories about social support and parts of the attachment theory. Data were collected from four interviews and analysed by the study’s theoretical framework. The results have shown that the interviewed persons found emotional, instrumental and informative support from their own social networks important after their loss. Receiving constructive feedback from the social networks, and or various support groups, were also important factors. The interviewed persons expressed that the perceived and offered support was not satisfying and that they would have appreciated further help. The results also showed that most of the inter-viewed persons found their participation in support groups important as the groups made it possible for them to express their inherent feelings and thoughts. They also found it important to be able to talk with individuals who had experienced similar losses. My findings support earlier research that states the importance of social support and the possibility to express grieving reactions after a loss.