COMMUNICATED SUPPORT FOLLOWING LOSS: EXAMINING THE EXPERIENCES OF PARENTAL DEATH AND PARENTAL DIVORCE IN ADOLESCENCE

Thirty adults who experienced parental death in adolescence (death survivors), 30 who experienced parental divorce in adolescence (divorce survivors), and 60 who experienced neither (30 potential support providers for each condition) rated the relative helpfulness of support-intended communications and the helpfulness of support network members. Few differences were found between death and divorce survivor groups and between survivor and potential provider groups. Nonsignificant results were discussed in terms of those elements of grief and grief support that transcend different loss situations. Differences were explained in terms of the unique situational demands differentiating parental death and parental divorce for adolescents.