Adolescent bereavement and social support perception of need according to gender

Abstract

In the empirical studies that have specifically addressed adolescent grief recovery, the issue of gender differences in perceptions of social support following bereavement has not been thoroughly examined. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of difference in perceptions of social support for bereaved adolescents according to gender. 50 males and 50 females from freshman psychology classes at the University of Wisconsin-Stout participated in the study. During their years in high school, all of them had experienced the death of at least one person who was close to them. The researcher used a self-constructed survey instrument to measure the subjects’ perceptions of the social support they received and the social support they desired following their loss. A student’s t-test for independent means was used to determine the statistical significance of the results. An alpha level of .05 was used for all statistical tests. The point-biserial correlation coefficient was used to describe the strength of statistically significant differences. The results of the study indicated that males and females were most likely to identify their parents, other family members, and peers as providing helpful support after their loss. Clergypersons/spiritual leaders, teachers, and school counselors were less likely to be identified as helpful support providers. The majority of males and females were likely to identify more than five people who provided helpful support. However, more males than females identified only one or two support people. Males were more likely than females to identify a parent, followed by a peer as their most helpful support person. Females were split evenly between naming a parent or peer as their most helpful support person. Males were likely to receive support for shorter periods of time, with half of them receiving only a few days of support. Females were more likely to receive support for a few weeks or more. However, the males were more likely to desire support for shorter periods of time, and most of them received the duration of support they desired. The females were more likely to desire a longer duration of support, and they were less likely to receive the duration of support they desired. A brief look at the statistically significant differences indicates that females were more likely than males to receive helpful support in the form of having someone listen, understand their feelings, express sorrow, hug them, let them cry, and share their experience of the loss. Males and females received similar levels of support in the form of being helped with problem solving, being distracted from the loss, sharing memories of the deceased, and being allowed to grieve alone. A brief look at the statistically differences indicates that females were more likely than males to want someone to listen, to help with problem solving, to understand their feelings, to express sorrow, to hug them, to let them cry, and to share their experiences of the loss. Males and females desired similar levels of support in the form of being distracted from the loss, sharing memories of the deceased, and being allowed to grieve alone. The author compared participants’ experiences and perceptions of loss and social support following the loss, integrating the findings with prior research on adolescent bereavement and grief support issues. Implications for professionals, such as educators and counselors, who work with adolescents are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research.