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Network groups for older people who have lost their spouse
- Authors:
- BREVIK John Ivar, DALGARD Odd Steffen, BRUNN Helge
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 3(2), June 2001, pp.26-30.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Describes the effectiveness of network groups on the mental health of bereaved spouses. A longitudinal study of 30 bereaved spouses was carried out in Norway. Two sets of network groups and control groups were established; 15 people were in the network groups and 15 were untreated controls. Personnel from the primary health services conducted the first six group sessions. After that, the groups continued on their own. A follow-up was conducted after one year. Mental symptoms were measured by the Hopkins Symptoms Check List 25 (Hscl-25) and social networks were measured by the number of different sectors of the social network seen at least once a week. After one year, there was a reduction in emotional distress in the network groups compared with the controls. The improvement in mental health was mostly explained by improved social networks.