LE3 .A278 1999

1999

Portelli, John

Acadia University

Master of Education

Masters

Counselling

Education

The purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate how widowers use the Internet. The participants for this study were located through Bulletin Boards, personal ads, Chat Rooms and personal profiles at one Internet site. Research questions were submitted via E-mail; correspondence with the participants was conducted by regular postal mail, ICQ and E-mail. The widowers were from Central America, Northern Europe and North America, had been widowed from 1 to 20 years, and ranged from 26 to 68 years of age. Results of the research indicated that most of the men initially used the Internet as way to combat their loneliness by visiting Chat Rooms. Sites that were also popular included those that provided opportunities to meet potential partners as well as those that supplied information that was needed by the widowers. Based on their own experiences, the participants in this study generally felt that the Internet could be a valuable resource for widowers after they have resolved their grief and are no longer ina fragile emotional state.

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