The Role of Social Supports in the Bereavement Process of Surviving Spouses of Suicide and Natural Deaths

The changing role of social supports in the bereavement of spouses of elderly suicides & natural deaths was examined, focusing on differences & similarities in relation to gender, time & mode of death. Results indicated that suicide survivors received significantly less emotional support for their feelings of depression & grief than the natural death survivors, & that they did not confide in the persons in their network any more than the nonbereaved controls did. (23 refs.)