Does social support help with marital bereavement?
Abstract
ABSTRACTIt is almost a truism that social support from family and friends buffers individuals against the painful grief that generally follows bereavement. Surprisingly, both in previous reviews of research and in the two studies reported here, there is little empirical support for this assumption. The author argues that pattern is consistent with assumptions from attachment theory. However, practically all of the research has been conducted with western samples. The fact that two recent studies conducted in Asia found evidence for buffering effects (probably restricted to support from children) raises the possibilityof cultural differences in the role children can play as attachment figures.
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