New Research Shows Flowers Help Emotional Well Being

Society of American Florists Says "In Lieu of Flowers" Phrase
is a Major Barrier to the Healing Process

Alexandria, VA (May 2007) Recent research indicates that sympathy flowers may not only brighten and warm a funeral or memorial service setting, but also have a positive impact on the emotional well being of the bereaved, according to the Society of American Florists (SAF). The national floral trade association cites a 2006 behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Harvard University, that underscores the importance of flowers in our lives and reveals some of the calming, fortifying feelings they can create.

The Harvard study reveals that flowers feed compassion and chase away anxiety and worries. The research participants lived with fresh flowers for just a few days and reported increases in feelings of compassion and kindness for others. Overall, people simply felt less negative after being around flowers.

What we learned is that flowers can have profound positive effects on our emotions, said Etcoff. We have an innate attraction to flowers, she added, and through research we're beginning to discover why that is so.

Previous behavioral research by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, also found that flowers improve our emotional health, according to The Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.

The bereavement process is a pivotal time when worry, anxiety, and many sad emotions are present, says Peter Moran, SAF's chief executive officer. With such compelling research that shows the presence of flowers make a positive impact on people's emotional well-being, SAF wants the funeral industry to know flowers are a critical part of the bereavement process.

In lieu of Flowers

Moran also says that SAF's member florists are more concerned than ever about the trend toward the use of the in lieu of flowers phrase in obituaries and death notices.

In light of the emotional benefits of flowers, it is hard to imagine a funeral or memorial service without them, says Rod Saline, SAF's president-elect and owner of Engwall Florist & Greenhouses in Duluth, Minnesota. However, floral industry members nationwide believe in lieu of flowers runs the risk of just that, he adds. The in lieu of flowers phrase, which traces its roots back to the 1950s, has seen prominent use in the last couple of decades with the proliferation of charitable organizations actively seeking memorial donations.

Florists continue to be concerned that the use if this phrase diminishes people's ability to express their sympathy through flowers, says Saline.

Moran says SAF is stepping up its efforts to deal with the issue by helping florists and funeral directors build better working relationships. He acknowledges the inconvenience that handling flowers can cause funeral directors, such as leaking or spilled water, delivery times, and transport issues, which may lead them to use the phrase more frequently in the obituaries they write. Or perhaps it's become second nature to insert the phrase when the family designates a charity, adds Moran.

SAF suggests funeral directors eliminate the in lieu of flowers phrase, unless directly specified by the family, and instead use an alternative phrase such as: Donations may be made to (charity), The family has designated (charity) for memorial contributions, or The (charity) Memorial has been established for those wishing to make a contribution.

Working Together to Best Serve a Mutual Customer

Acknowledging the need for florists to work closely with their local funeral directors, Moran says SAF provides its members with tips and advice to make handling and transporting flowers easier for the funeral director.

I encourage funeral directors to actively participate in an open dialogue with their local florist, Moran says, to make them aware of problems or concerns, and allow the florist to best serve their individual needs. SAF is encouraging florists to ask funeral directors whether they have challenges with certain container types and sizes, and if they prefer certain delivery times or need help transporting flowers.

Communicating and working to reach a mutual understanding for problems will benefit the funeral director, the florist and our mutual customer the family and friends of the deceased, says Saline.


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