What is Good Grief Support? Exploring actors and behaviors in social support after traumatic grief

Cacciatore J, Thieleman K, Fretts R, Jackson LB (2021) What is good grief support? Exploring actors and behaviors in social support after traumatic grief. PLoS ONE 16(5): e0252324. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252324

Commentary

Social support during disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to improve the well-being and health of many people. Conversely, poor social support and isolation can result in poor health outcomes and negatively impact physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Social support is particularly important in traumatic grief, but the ways in which grieving individuals access social support are not well understood, and little is known about which specific behaviors are perceived to be helpful.

This study used qualitative description and content analysis to assess survivors' satisfaction with social support in traumatic grief, using four categories of social support as a framework.

Pets were reported with the most satisfactory ratings, although the findings suggest inadequate satisfaction from professional, family, and community support.

Furthermore, it suggests that emotional support is the most desirable type of support following traumatic loss.