Adolescent Bereavement and Social Support

Abstract

The authors examined the incidence, experience, and perceptions of social support after an adolescent’s loss of a peer, grandparent, or other person by surveying 85 participants aged 17 to 20 years about their experience of loss during adolescence (ages 14 to 19 years). Overall, 70.6% of the participants had experienced a loss, and 43.5% experienced the loss of a peer. Participants rated peers and parents as the most helpful support people. Participants answered questions on the type and duration of support received and wanted. The authors compare participants’perceptions of peer loss to grandparent loss, any loss, and a problem situation (no loss); integrate it with prior research on adolescent loss of a parent or sibling; and discuss the implications for counselors in the field and for further research.