Social Support and loss of a family member: A comparative study between first and second degree relatives.

Abstract

This study examined the phenomena of grief and social support, as experienced by people who lost a first degree relative (parent) or a second degree relative. Those were studied under the scope of the Greek family and culture. Results deriving from online questionnaires revealed that grieving for a first degree relative is more intense than grieving for a second degree one; and that the levels of social support did not differ between the two kinship groups. Taken together, the findings indicate that loss of a parent is an impactful event that raises intense grief reactions. In parallel, loss of a second degree relative, is also recognized as a major event and within the Greek family / culture, bereaved relatives receive the same amount of social support in this occasion as well.