TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2008//
TI  - Internet support groups for suicide survivors: a new mode for gaining bereavement assistance
JO  - OMEGA - Journal of death and dying
A1  - Feigelman, William
A1  - Gorman, Bernard S.
A1  - Beal, Karyl Chastain
A1  - Jordan, John R.
SP  - 217
EP  - 243
VL  - 57
IS  - 3
N2  - Taken among parents who sustained the loss of a child to suicide this study explores the participation of parents in Internet support groups, comparing their demographic and loss-related characteristics (N = 104) to other parent survivors participating in face-to-face support groups (N = 297). Contrary to expectations that Internet affiliates would be concentrated in under-served rural areas, we found similar levels of urban, suburban, small city and rural residents in both Internet and face-to-face subsamples. Bivariate and multivariate analyses suggested several important factors contributing to interest in Internet grief support including: 24/7 availability and opportunities to invest more time into this type of support group experience. Compared to their face-to-face group counterparts, Internet affiliates experienced greater suicide stigmatization from their families and other associates. Unable to find ready comfort and support from their personal communities, Internet users-and especially highly depressed survivors-sought and obtained valuable help from the Internet support resource.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0030-2228
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -