Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies
Bereavement is a significant stressor that can affect and be affected by social support, yet there is little known about the social networks of bereaved individuals. We conducted an in-depth qualitative examination of the social networks of bereaved spouses through an interpretive phenomenological a...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
SAGE
2020
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80183 |
| _version_ | 1848764175081275392 |
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| author | Morrigan, Brigid Keesing, Sharon Breen, Lauren |
| author_facet | Morrigan, Brigid Keesing, Sharon Breen, Lauren |
| author_sort | Morrigan, Brigid |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Bereavement is a significant stressor that can affect and be affected by social support, yet there is little known about the social networks of bereaved individuals. We conducted an in-depth qualitative examination of the social networks of bereaved spouses through an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five participants were interviewed about their social networks prior to and following bereavement. Participants described considerable changes in their social networks. They reported connecting with others who had experienced similar stressors, including via online support groups for widows/widowers, as a key strategy for re-engagement with their social worlds. The death of a spouse can precipitate the dramatic reorganization of social networks to incorporate and adapt to this crisis. Findings offer guidance for service providers to support bereaved spouses to harness existing social networks to optimize received support. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:15:10Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-80183 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:15:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | SAGE |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-801832020-08-17T07:36:14Z Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies Morrigan, Brigid Keesing, Sharon Breen, Lauren Bereavement is a significant stressor that can affect and be affected by social support, yet there is little known about the social networks of bereaved individuals. We conducted an in-depth qualitative examination of the social networks of bereaved spouses through an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five participants were interviewed about their social networks prior to and following bereavement. Participants described considerable changes in their social networks. They reported connecting with others who had experienced similar stressors, including via online support groups for widows/widowers, as a key strategy for re-engagement with their social worlds. The death of a spouse can precipitate the dramatic reorganization of social networks to incorporate and adapt to this crisis. Findings offer guidance for service providers to support bereaved spouses to harness existing social networks to optimize received support. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80183 10.1177/0030222820944062 SAGE fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Morrigan, Brigid Keesing, Sharon Breen, Lauren Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies |
| title | Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies |
| title_full | Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies |
| title_short | Exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: Phenomenological case studies |
| title_sort | exploring the social networks of bereaved spouses: phenomenological case studies |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/80183 |