An internet tool to normalize grief
Open accessAbstract
This research evaluated the efficacy of a psycho-educational Internet self-help tool to educate and support recently (1-6 months) bereaved individuals. The goal of the website was to help users normalize their grief to enhance their adaptive adjustment. A randomized controlled trial evaluated the gains in social cognitive theory constructs and state anxiety. Compared to the control group (N = 34), treatment participants (N = 33) reported significant multivariate gains (eta-square = .191). Significant program effects were obtained on all three outcome measures: attitude (eta-square = .177), self-efficacy (eta-square = .106), and state anxiety (eta-square = .083). These findings suggest the potential efficacy of an Internet-based grief support tool to enhance adaptive adjustment of the bereaved.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Previous research has shown the effectiveness of online tools in grief support that help improve the adaptive adjustment of people in grief.
“Along the same lines, previous research has shown the effectiveness of online tools in grief support that help improve the adaptive adjustment of people in grief (Dominick et al., 2010).”
From A Self-Applied Multi-Component Psychological Online Intervention Based on UX, for the Prevention of Complicated Grief Disorder in the Mexican Population During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Protocol of a Randomized Clinical Trial (2021) · cites this paper as Dominick et al., 2010
The Discussion (page not provided) reports significant positive effects from an online grief-support tool and says it may enhance adaptive adjustment. But it calls the findings promising rather than established effectiveness: demonstrating a positive impact on bereavement would require measuring change over a longer period. The study was also limited to people recently bereaved by the expected natural death of a parent or older relative. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change
Bandura, A. (1977) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.84.2.191 · Cited by 43,925 · see citing works
Eysenck, H. J. (1985) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(85)90087-7 · Cited by 32,026 · see citing works
“Stress: appraisal and coping,”
Folkman, S. (2013) · Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_215 · Cited by 27,833 · see citing works
(1970) · Cited by 24,983 · see citing works
(1985) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 19,180 · see citing works
Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change
Bandura, A. (1978) · Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0146-6402(78)90002-4 · Cited by 10,586 · see citing works
Lewis, M., & Haviland, J. M. (1993) · Cited by 3,308 · see citing works
SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE GRIEF
Lindemann, E. (1944) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.101.2.141 · Cited by 3,214 · see citing works
Health outcomes of bereavement.
Stroebe, M., Schut, H., & Stroebe, W. (2007) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(07)61816-9 · Cited by 1,746 · see citing works
Lewis, M. D., Haviland-Jones, J. M., & Barrett, L. F. (2000) · Cited by 1,304 · see citing works
Life Transitions, Role Histories, and Mental Health
Wheaton, B. (1990) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2095627 · Cited by 715 · see citing works
The varieties of grief experience
Bonanno, G. A., & Kaltman, S. I. (2001) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/s0272-7358(00)00062-3 · Cited by 657 · see citing works
Treatment of complicated mourning
Rando, T. A. (1993) · Cited by 645 · see citing works
Prigerson, H., & Jacobs, S. (2001) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/10436-026 · Cited by 567 · see citing works
(2024) · doi:10.70706/j.cpr · Cited by 534 · see citing works
(1993) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511664076 · Cited by 519 · see citing works
Toward an integrative perspective on bereavement.
Bonanno, G. A., & Kaltman, S. (1999) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037//0033-2909.125.6.760 · Cited by 500 · see citing works
Treatment of complicated mourning
Patterson, R. L. (1993) · Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0005-7916(93)90035-u · Cited by 447 · see citing works
Currier, J. M., Neimeyer, R. A., & Berman, J. S. (2008) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.134.5.648 · Cited by 431 · cited 1× · see citing works
“A recent meta-analysis by Currier, Neimeyer, and Berman (2008) found that bereavement interventions had minimal effect at follow-up, but that interventions for complicated grievers had outcomes comparable to psycho-therapies for other difficulties.”
Internet-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Complicated Grief: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Wagner, B., Knaevelsrud, C., & Maercker, A. (2006) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481180600614385 · Cited by 376 · see citing works
Shuchter, S. R., & Zisook, S. (1993) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511664076.003 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Web-Based Smoking-Cessation Programs
Strecher, V. J., McClure, J. B., Alexander, G. L., Chakraborty, B., Nair, V. N., Konkel, J. M., Greene, S. M., Collins, L. M., Carlier, C. C., Wiese, C. J., et al. (2008) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.12.024 · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Men Don't Cry, Women Do: Transcending Gender Stereotypes of Grief
Martin, T. L., & Doka, K. J. (1999) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Symptomatology and management of acute grief. 1944 [classical article]
Lindemann, E. (1994) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.151.6.155 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Davis, C. G., & Nolen–Hoeksema, S. (2001) · American Behavioral Scientist · doi:10.1177/0002764201044005003 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
Bereavement care interventions: a systematic review
Forte, A. L., Hill, M. A., Pazder, R., & Feudtner, C. (2004) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/1472-684x-3-3 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Vandelanotte, C., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Sallis, J. F., Spittaels, H., & Brug, J. (2005) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1207/s15324796abm2902_8 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Fotheringham, M. (2000) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0749-3797(00)00188-4 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Death of Parents and Adult Psychological and Physical Well-Being
Marks, N., Jun, H., & Song, J. (2007) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/0192513x07302728 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Real World Use of an Internet Intervention for Pediatric Encopresis
Ritterband, L. M., Ardalan, K., Thorndike, F. P., Magee, J. C., Saylor, D. K., Cox, D. J., Sutphen, J. L., & Borowitz, S. M. (2008) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.1081 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
A 1.5‐year follow‐up of an internet‐based intervention for complicated grief
Wagner, B., & Maercker, A. (2007) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20230 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Treatment of the Depressions of Bereavement
Zisook, S., & Shuchter, S. R. (2001) · American Behavioral Scientist · doi:10.1177/0002764201044005006 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Bauer, J. J., & Bonanno, G. A. (2001) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1006/jrpe.2001.2323 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Bauer, J. J., & Bonanno, G. A. (2001) · Narrative Inquiry · doi:10.1075/ni.11.1.06bau · Cited by 44 · see citing works
(2013) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203727652 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Usability of Multimedia Technology to Help Caregivers Prepare for a Crisis
Chambers, M. G. A., Connor, S. L., Diver, M., & McGonigle, M. (2002) · Telemedicine Journal and e-Health · doi:10.1089/15305620260353234 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Introduction Interactive health communication in preventive medicine
Fotheringham, M. J. (2000) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/s0749-3797(00)00185-9 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
3 of the 40 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Mobile-Web App to Self-Manage Low Back Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial
Irvine, A. B., Russell, H., Manocchia, M., Mino, D. E., Glassen, T. C., Morgan, R. L., Gau, J. M., Birney, A. J., & Ary, D. V. (2015) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/jmir.3130 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Massimi, M., Odom, W., Banks, R., & Kirk, D. S. (2011) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/1978942.1979090 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Xygkou, A., Siriaraya, P., Covaci, A., Prigerson, H. G., Neimeyer, R., Ang, C. S., & She, W.-J. (2023) · Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3544548.3581154 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
The practice of tele-mental health: Ethical, legal, and clinical issues for practitioners.
Barnett, J. E., & Kolmes, K. (2016) · Practice Innovations · doi:10.1037/pri0000014 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Zuelke, A. E., Luppa, M., Löbner, M., Pabst, A., Schlapke, C., Stein, J., & Riedel-Heller, S. G. (2021) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/29661 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
A pilot study of virtual support for grief: Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes
Knowles, L. M., Stelzer, E., Jovel, K. S., & O'Connor, M. (2017) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.04.005 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Recent trends in the treatment of prolonged grief
Mancini, A. D., Griffin, P. W., & Bonanno, G. A. (2011) · Current Opinion in Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/yco.0b013e32834de48a · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Exploring remembrance and social support behavior in an online bereavement support group
Massimi, M. (2013) · ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) · doi:10.1145/2441776.2441908 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Grieving Online: Newcomers’ Constructions of Grief in an Online Support Group
Varga, M. A., & Paulus, T. M. (2013) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481187.2013.780112 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Dying, Death, and the Afterlife in Human-Computer Interaction. A Scoping Review.
Albers, R., Sadeghian, S., Laschke, M., & Hassenzahl, M. (2023) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3544548.3581199 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Baglione, A. N., Girard, M. M., Price, M., Clawson, J., & Shih, P. C. (2018) · CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems · doi:10.1145/3173574.3173990 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Complicated Grief Reactions in Children and Adolescents
Nader, K., & Salloum, A. (2011) · Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma · doi:10.1080/19361521.2011.599358 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Using second life to facilitate peer storytelling for grieving oncology nurses.
Rice, K. L., Bennett, M. J., & Billingsley, L. (2014) · PubMed Central · Cited by 30 · see citing works
McNeil, M. J., Kiefer, A., Woods, C., Barnett, B., Berry‐Carter, K., Clark, L., Mandrell, B. N., Snaman, J., Kaye, E. C., & Baker, J. N. (2022) · Cancer Medicine · doi:10.1002/cam4.4696 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Çakar, F. S. (2020) · International Education Studies · doi:10.5539/ies.v13n12p27 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Dominguez-Rodriguez, A., Martínez-Luna, S. C., Hernández Jiménez, M. J., De La Rosa-Gómez, A., Arenas-Landgrave, P., Esquivel Santoveña, E. E., Arzola-Sánchez, C., Alvarez Silva, J., Solis Nicolas, A. M., Colmenero Guadián, A. M., et al. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644782 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
“Along the same lines, previous research has shown the effectiveness of online tools in grief support that help improve the adaptive adjustment of people in grief (Dominick et al., 2010).”
ResultThe Use of Telepsychology in Clinical Practice: Benefits, Effectiveness, and Issues to Consider
Godine, N., & Barnett, J. E. (2013) · International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning · doi:10.4018/ijcbpl.2013100105 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Tam, K. Y. Y., Chan, C. S., van Tilburg, W. A. P., Lavi, I., & Lau, J. Y. F. (2022) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12764 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Behr, S., Garcia, L. M., Lucas, J., Kohlhase, E., Puetz, M., Boettcher, J., Schaeuffele, C., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2025) · Internet Interventions · doi:10.1016/j.invent.2025.100821 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Suicide Bereavement Online: Sharing Memories, Seeking Support, and Exchanging Hope
Krysinska, K. E., & Andriessen, K. (2013) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137351692_11 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Cook, S. (2025) · Mortality · doi:10.1080/13576275.2025.2451093 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Hope May Come From Internet in Times of COVID-19: Building an Online Programme for Grief (LIVIA)
Berthoud, L., Efinger, L., Kheyar, M., Pomini, V., & Debrot, A. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.626831 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
The Feasibility of eHealth in Mental Health Care
Basnet, S. (2014) · Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy · doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000205 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Smart technologies for older people
Morris, M. E. (2012) · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Grief in the Context of HIV: Recommendations for Practice
Mallinson, R. K. (2013) · Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care · doi:10.1016/j.jana.2012.08.012 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Ethical issues involved in online counseling
Ross, W. (2011) · Journal of Psychological Issues in Organizational Culture · doi:10.1002/jpoc.20047 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Tur, C., Campos, D., Herrero, R., Mor, S., López-Montoyo, A., Castilla, D., & Quero, S. (2021) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046477 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Yao, D., Qian, F., Tung, T., Shi, H., & Bi, D. (2025) · BMC Palliative Care · doi:10.1186/s12904-025-01679-5 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Zúñiga-Villanueva, G., Ramírez-GarcíaLuna, J. L., & Villafranca-Andino, R. I. (2021) · Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care · doi:10.1080/15524256.2021.1894309 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Buckley, A., Dodd, A., & Guérin, S. (2023) · Counselling Psychology Quarterly · doi:10.1080/09515070.2023.2186834 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Efinger, L., Debrot, A., & Pomini, V. (2021) · Annales Médico-psychologiques revue psychiatrique · doi:10.1016/j.amp.2021.05.004 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Welzel, F. D., Löbner, M., Quittschalle, J., Pabst, A., Luppa, M., Stein, J., & Riedel-Heller, S. G. (2021) · Internet Interventions · doi:10.1016/j.invent.2021.100451 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
The psychology of bereavement and mourning rituals in a Northern Sotho community
Makgahlela, M. (2016) · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Improving Grief Counseling: Enhancing the Education and Confidence of Psychology Graduate Students
Jankauskaite, G., O’Brien, K. M., Yoo, S., Yang, N., Yoon, S., & Bang, J. (2024) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325024.2024.2402393 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
A Therapist’s Guide to Treating Grief after the Loss of a Pet: A Three-Tier Model
Miller, T. A. K., Prout, M. F., Rourke, M. T., Lefkowitz, C. M., & Boyer, B. A. (2014) · Human-animal interaction bulletin · doi:10.1079/hai.2014.0007 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Jin, W., Peng, W., & Tang, S. (2025) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008066.2025.2484872 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
The Effect of Mobile Support Devices on the Anxiety and Self-Efficacy of Hospital Float Staff
McKee, M., Allen, J., & Tamez, R. (2014) · Performance Improvement Quarterly · doi:10.1002/piq.21171 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Gottschalk-Fleischer, A., Köhler, N., Brähler, E., Mehnert, A., & Götze, H. (2017) · Das Gesundheitswesen · doi:10.1055/s-0043-102181 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Behr, S., García, L. M., Lucas, J., Kohlhase, E., Puetz, M., Boettcher, J., Schaeuffele, C., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2024) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/28knb · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Qualitative evaluation of a hospital bereavement service: the perspective of grieving adults
Brown, J. A., & Gardner, J. (2015) · Bereavement Care · doi:10.1080/02682621.2015.1064582 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Bereavement Experiences in Adulthood
Waite‐Jones, J. M., & Rodriguez, A. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-88177-0_10 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Welzel, F. D., Pabst, A., Stein, J., Bleck, F., Riedel-Heller, S. G., & Löbner, M. (2025) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/68662 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Clergywomen and grief: Local church pastors and their experiences
Miller, H., & Elizabeth, S. (2013) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Att blogga om sorg - ett modernt sätt att sörja?
Bjerndell, H., & Vallin, J. (2011) · Lund University Publications Student Papers (Lund University)
Pfirrman, J. L. (2011) · CORE Scholar (Wright State University)
Death and Dying, Psychology of
Varga, M. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-097086-8.34009-0
Gamino, L. A. (2012) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203152683-70
Mortes anunciadas: implicações para o luto dos cuidadores familiares
Gonzaga, L. Z. M. (2012) · doi:10.14393/ufu.di.2012.193
Tur, C., & Tur Domenech, C. (2023) · doi:10.6035/14109.2023.433029
Can self-distancing benefit adjustment to bereavement? A multi-method investigation
Zhou, N., Ren, F., Cao, C., She, Z., Smith, K. V., & Xi, J. (2025) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117743
- Authors
- Dominick, S. A., Irvine, A. B., Beauchamp, N., Seeley, J. R., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Doka, K. J., & Bonanno, G. A.
- Affiliations
- Oregon Center For Applied Science (United States) (US)
- Oregon Research Institute (US)
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
- College of New Rochelle (US)
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Irvine, A. Blair
- Venue
- OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-02
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 71-87
- ISSN
- 0030-2228 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-3764
- PMC
- PMC2802222
- OpenAlex
- W2074230135
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R43MH077427)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
- Keywords
- grief, bereavement, online self-help, psychoeducational intervention, adaptive adjustment, social cognitive theory, self-efficacy, state anxiety, attitude change, online support
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Attitude to Death, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Grief, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Self-Help Groups, Social Support, Therapy, Computer-Assisted, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Internet
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review