著者

間野 百子

出版者

東京大学大学院教育学研究科生涯教育計画講座社会教育学研究室紀要編集委員会

雑誌

生涯学習・社会教育学研究 (ISSN:1342193X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.29, pp.35-44, 2004-12-25

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With rapid social and familial changes, it has become more important to expand sources of social support in order to meet people's diverse needs or demands. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the significance of self-help groups as an effective way to assist people in coping with "grief". In the United States, self-help groups, a typical example of informal social support, have been increasing both in size and in number. As an enlightening example, I will explore characteristics of learning process of newly widowed persons who take part in a peer- led self-help group called WPS (Widowed Persons Service). Finally, I would like to conclude this paper by demonstrating that self-help groups will improve members'morale, enhance their active involvement with social activities and ultimately lead to a realization of circulative support systems in communities.