Table 1 Study characteristics
| Author, year, country |
Study design Sample source | Sample demographics |
Mode of bereavement Time since bereavement | Social support measures | Measured outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey, 2013, Canada [29] |
Cross-sectional Community organisation |
n=48 mean age=51.5 100% female |
Child lost to gun violence 0.5-12 years | Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) [30] | Resilience |
| Bottomley, 2017, U.S.A. [31] |
Longitudinal (6 month follow-up) Support organisation |
n=47 mean age=49.7 89.4% female |
Family member lost to homicide Mean length= 1.66 years at T1, 2.16 at T2 | Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule (ASSIS) [32] | PTSD, complicated grief, depression, anxiety |
| Burke, 2010, U.S.A. [33] |
Cross-sectional Support organisation |
n=54 mean age=48.6 88.9% female |
Family member lost to homicide Mean length= 1.75 years | ASSIS, Inventory of Social Support (ISS) [34] & MSPSS | PTSD, complicated grief, depression |
| Cowan, 1985, U.S.A.a [27] |
Cross-sectional Death certificates/ court records |
n=119 (50 control) mean age=unclear 70% female |
Friends and family lost in natural disaster Mean length= .92 years | Coppel Index of Social Support (CISS) [35] | Depression |
| Murphy, 1988, U.S.A.a [28] |
Cross-sectional Death certificates/ court records Official population records |
n= 49 (bereaved) /36 (control) mean age= 30/37 74%/65% female |
Friends and family lost in natural disaster Mean length= 3 years (estimate) | CISS | Mental distress, recovery |
| Fullerton, 1999, U.S.A. [36] |
Cross-sectional Air force squadron |
n=71 mean age=33 4.0% female |
Squadron members of personnel lost in plane crash Mean length= 0.17 years | Perceived Social Support Scales (Family and Friends) [37] | Depression, initial impact of event |
| Heeke, 2017, Colombia [38] |
Cross-sectional Humanitarian organisation |
n=308 mean age=48.5 61.7% female |
Significant other lost in armed conflict Mean length= 12.4 years | DUKE-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire [39] | PTSD, Prolonged grief, emotional distress |
| Kristensen, 2010, Norway [40] |
Cross-sectional Official population records (police deceased list and population register) |
n=130 mean age=45.7 51.5% female |
Family member lost in natural disaster Mean length= 2.2 years | Crisis Support Scale (CSS) [41] | Complicated grief |
| Levi-Belz, 2015, Israel [42] |
Cross-sectional Support organisation/online support forum |
n=135 mean age=40.3 77.0% female |
Family member lost to suicide Mean length = 3.5 years | MSPSS | Stress-related growth |
| Levi-Belz, 2019, Israel [43] |
Cross-sectional Support organisation/online support forum/online advertising |
n=156 mean age=40.7 81.4% female |
Family member or friend lost to suicide Mean length = 10 years | MSPSS | Complicated grief |
| Li, 2015, China [44] |
Cross-sectional Official population records |
n=803 mean age=46.7 63% female |
Family lost to natural disaster Mean length = 1.0 years | MSPSS | Complicated grief |
| Oexle, 2019, U.S.A [45] |
Cross-sectional Support organisation/online advertising |
n=195 mean age=50 92% female |
Immediate family lost to suicide Mean length = 8.9 years |
Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ) [46] | Depression, personal growth, grief difficulties, suicidal ideation |
| Rheingold, 2015, U.S.A. [47] |
Cross-sectional Official population records |
n=47 mean age=78.7 78.7% female |
Immediate family lost to homicide Mean length = 2.1 years | ISS | PTSD, complicated grief, depression |
| Spino, 2016, U.S.A. [48] |
Cross-sectional Social support group/online advertising |
n=44 mean age=44 75% female |
Adults bereaved by suicide Length of loss unclear | Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ) [49] | Depression, loneliness |
| Sprang, 1998, U.S.A. [50] |
Cross-sectional Support organisation |
n=171 mean age=34 54.4% female |
Immediate family killed by drunk driver Mean length = 2.3 years | Provisions of Social Relations Scale (PSRS) [51] | PTSD, grief, mourning |
| Xu, 2017, China [52] |
Cross-sectional Official population records |
n=176 mean age=54.7 52.3% female | Child lost to natural disaster 6.0-6.3 years | Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) [53] | PTSD |