The Predictability of Facebook Memorial Page Participation on Grief

The Predictability of Facebook Memorial Page Participation on Grief by Colleen Grote MS, Western Illinois University, 2012 BS, Iowa State University, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision Walden University August 2018 Abstract As the world’s largest social networking site, Facebook, continues to grow in popularity, it is imperative for counselors and counselor educators to better understand how online environments impact all facets of life, including death. Grief behaviors on Facebook have been a focus of scholars since the launch of the social networking site in 2004. Researchers have demonstrated that Facebook memorial pages have a significant impact on the social and cultural practices related to death and memorialization for Facebook users. However, despite a rapid rise in research related to online mourning, researchers have yet been able to establish the potential risk or benefit of engaging in online memorial pages and continuing bonds with the deceased. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the relationship between participation in Facebook memorial pages and grief symptom severity and persistence for adults living in the United States who have experienced the death loss of a friend or family member since 2009. The continuing bonds theory was used to guide the foundation of this study and interpret findings. Using online survey methods, data was collected from 225 Facebook users. Results of a multiple regression revealed no relationship between Facebook memorial page participation and grief severity but demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between Facebook memorial page participation and grief persistence. These findings are crucial to aiding social change related to an expansion of counselor awareness of the cultural implications of online mourning and the influence virtual mourning may have on appropriate diagnosis of grief related disorders.As the world’s largest social networking site, Facebook, continues to grow in popularity, it is imperative for counselors and counselor educators to better understand how online environments impact all facets of life, including death. Grief behaviors on Facebook have been a focus of scholars since the launch of the social networking site in 2004. Researchers have demonstrated that Facebook memorial pages have a significant impact on the social and cultural practices related to death and memorialization for Facebook users. However, despite a rapid rise in research related to online mourning, researchers have yet been able to establish the potential risk or benefit of engaging in online memorial pages and continuing bonds with the deceased. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the relationship between participation in Facebook memorial pages and grief symptom severity and persistence for adults living in the United States who have experienced the death loss of a friend or family member since 2009. The continuing bonds theory was used to guide the foundation of this study and interpret findings. Using online survey methods, data was collected from 225 Facebook users. Results of a multiple regression revealed no relationship between Facebook memorial page participation and grief severity but demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between Facebook memorial page participation and grief persistence. These findings are crucial to aiding social change related to an expansion of counselor awareness of the cultural implications of online mourning and the influence virtual mourning may have on appropriate diagnosis of grief related disorders. The Predictability of Facebook Memorial Page Participation on Grief by Colleen M. Grote MS, Western Illinois University, 2012 BS, Iowa State University, 2007 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision Walden University August 2018 Acknowledgments Thank you, Dr. Frazier, for being a source of constant support and motivation throughout the creation of this document. Your ability to ground me and remind me to take things one step at a time was critical to my success. Thank you, Dr. Overton, for being courageous enough to take on this adventure with me and for providing me with constant reassurance and encouragement. Also, thank you Dr. Warren for your guidance and for challenging me to look deeper. Thank you, to my loving and supportive husband, Brian. I could not have done this without your constant encouragement. Thank you to my incredible daughter, Madeline. You have truly been on this journey since day one and I am so proud to share this accomplishment with you. To all of my family and friends, thank you for believing in me and for your reminders to persevere through the toughest moments.