Exploring the journey of supporters in bereavement support groups: Experiences, sense-making, and social connections

This study aimed to explore facilitators' experiences in bereavement support groups as they relate to their experiences of personal loss. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine facilitators who had experienced such grief, and data were analyzed qualitatively using a modified grounded theory approach (M-GTA). The analysis revealed two categories and nine subcategories: (i) 'Experiences in group activities,' encompassing positive and negative experiences during activities, and (ii) 'Structuring of Meaning,' the process of deciphering for oneself in relation to one's experience of loss and life. These two categories interacted with each other, and it was important for facilitators to find meaning in their activities, loss experiences, and lives for the stable continuation of bereavement support group activities. These findings underscore the importance of facilitators following and supporting the sense-making process.