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Tabuteau-Harrison SL, Haslam C, Mewse AJ. Adjusting to living with multiple sclerosis: The role of social groups. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2014; 26:36-59. [DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2014.993403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Steadman J, Pretorius C. The impact of an online Facebook support group for people with multiple sclerosis on non-active users. Afr J Disabil 2014; 3:132. [PMID: 28730005 PMCID: PMC5443048 DOI: 10.4102/ajod.v3i1.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease and there is little research on support networks for people with MS (PwMS). More specifically, most studies on online support groups focus on those who actively participate in the group, whereas the majority of those who utilise online support groups do so in a passive way. Objectives This study therefore aimed to explore the experiences of non-active users of an online Facebook support group for PwMS. Emphasis was placed on the facilitators and the barriers that were associated with membership to this group. Method An exploratory qualitative research design was implemented, whereby thematic analysis was utilised to examine the ten semi-structured interviews that were conducted. Results Several facilitators were acquired through the online support group; namely emotional support (constant source of support, exposure to negative aspects of the disease), informational support (group as a source of knowledge, quality of information) and social companionship (place of belonging). Some barriers were also identified; namely emotional support (emotions lost online, response to messages, exposure to negative aspects of the disease), informational support (information posted on the group, misuse of group) and social companionship (non-active status) Conclusion These findings demonstrate that the non-active members of the online support group for PwMS have valid reasons for their non-active membership status. More important, the findings suggest that the online Facebook support group provided the group members with an important support network in the form of emotional support, informational support and social companionship, despite their non-active membership status or the barriers that have been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqui Steadman
- Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
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Sani F, Madhok V, Norbury M, Dugard P, Wakefield JRH. Greater number of group identifications is associated with healthier behaviour: Evidence from a Scottish community sample. Br J Health Psychol 2014; 20:466-81. [DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Dingle GA, Stark C, Cruwys T, Best D. Breaking good: breaking ties with social groups may be good for recovery from substance misuse. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2014; 54:236-54. [PMID: 25209252 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2014] [Revised: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
According to the Social Identity Model of Identity Change, maintaining social identities and support over time is good for health and well-being, particularly during stressful transitions. However, in this study we explore the circumstances under which maintaining social identities - such as 'substance user' - may be harmful to health, and when a successful transition constitutes identity change, rather than maintenance. This prospective study examined social identities of 132 adults entering a drug and alcohol therapeutic community (TC) at admission, three fortnightly intervals and exit, as well as a representative subsample of 60 participants at follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA results showed that user identity decreased significantly over time, such that 76% of the sample decreased in user identity strength over the first month in the TC. At the same time, recovery identity ratings increased significantly over time, with 64% of the sample staying the same or increasing their recovery identity ratings over the first month. Identity change, indexed by the change in the difference score between user identity and recovery identity over the treatment period, accounted for 34% of the variance in drinking quantity, 41% of the variance in drinking frequency, 5% of the variance in other drug use frequency, and 49% of the variance in life satisfaction at follow-up, after accounting for initial substance abuse severity and social identity ratings at entry to the TC. The findings indicate that moving from a substance using identity towards a recovery identity constitutes an important step in substance abuse treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve A Dingle
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Claire Stark
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tegan Cruwys
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Best
- Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Cruwys T, South EI, Greenaway KH, Haslam SA. Social Identity Reduces Depression by Fostering Positive Attributions. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2014. [DOI: 10.1177/1948550614543309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Social identities are generally associated with better health and in particular lower levels of depression. However, there has been limited investigation of why social identities protect against depression. The current research suggests that social identities reduce depression in part because they attenuate the depressive attribution style (internal, stable, and global; e.g., “I failed because I’m stupid”). These relationships are first investigated in a survey (Study 1, N = 139) and then followed up in an experiment that manipulates social identity salience (Study 2, N = 88). In both cases, people with stronger social identities were less likely to attribute negative events to internal, stable, or global causes and subsequently reported lower levels of depression. These studies thus indicate that social identities can protect and enhance mental health by facilitating positive interpretations of stress and failure. Implications for clinical theory and practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Cruwys
- University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia Erica I. South and Tegan Cruwys are joint first authors
| | - Erica I. South
- University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia Erica I. South and Tegan Cruwys are joint first authors
| | - Katharine H. Greenaway
- University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia Erica I. South and Tegan Cruwys are joint first authors
| | - S. Alexander Haslam
- University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia Erica I. South and Tegan Cruwys are joint first authors
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Cruwys T, Haslam SA, Dingle GA, Haslam C, Jetten J. Depression and Social Identity: An Integrative Review. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2014; 18:215-238. [PMID: 24727974 DOI: 10.1177/1088868314523839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Social relationships play a key role in depression. This is apparent in its etiology, symptomatology, and effective treatment. However, there has been little consensus about the best way to conceptualize the link between depression and social relationships. Furthermore, the extensive social-psychological literature on the nature of social relationships, and in particular, research on social identity, has not been integrated with depression research. This review presents evidence that social connectedness is key to understanding the development and resolution of clinical depression. The social identity approach is then used as a basis for conceptualizing the role of social relationships in depression, operationalized in terms of six central hypotheses. Research relevant to these hypotheses is then reviewed. Finally, we present an agenda for future research to advance theoretical and empirical understanding of the link between social identity and depression, and to translate the insights of this approach into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Cruwys
- The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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Cruwys T, Alexander Haslam S, Dingle GA, Jetten J, Hornsey MJ, Desdemona Chong EM, Oei TPS. Feeling connected again: interventions that increase social identification reduce depression symptoms in community and clinical settings. J Affect Disord 2014; 159:139-46. [PMID: 24679402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Revised: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical depression is often preceded by social withdrawal, however, limited research has examined whether depressive symptoms are alleviated by interventions that increase social contact. In particular, no research has investigated whether social identification (the sense of being part of a group) moderates the impact of social interventions. METHOD We test this in two longitudinal intervention studies. In Study 1 (N=52), participants at risk of depression joined a community recreation group; in Study 2 (N=92) adults with diagnosed depression joined a clinical psychotherapy group. RESULTS In both the studies, social identification predicted recovery from depression after controlling for initial depression severity, frequency of attendance, and group type. In Study 2, benefits of social identification were larger for depression symptoms than for anxiety symptoms or quality of life. LIMITATION Social identification is subjective and psychological, and therefore participants could not be randomly assigned to high and low social identification conditions. CONCLUSIONS Findings have implications for health practitioners in clinical and community settings, suggesting that facilitating social participation is effective and cost-effective in treating depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Cruwys
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - S Alexander Haslam
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Genevieve A Dingle
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jolanda Jetten
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Matthew J Hornsey
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - E M Desdemona Chong
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tian P S Oei
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; CBT Unit, Toowong Private Hospital, Queensland, Australia
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Holt CL, Clark EM, Wang MQ, Williams BR, Schulz E. The Religion-Health Connection Among African Americans: What Is the Role of Social Capital? JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/casp.2191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl L. Holt
- School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health; University of Maryland; 2369 Public Health Building (255) College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Eddie M. Clark
- Department of Psychology; Saint Louis University; 214 Shannon Hall Saint Louis MO 63013 USA
| | - Min Qi Wang
- School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health; University of Maryland; 2369 Public Health Building (255) College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Beverly Rosa Williams
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology/Geriatrics/Palliative Care; University of Alabama at Birmingham; CH19 218K; 1530 3rd Ave. S Birmingham AL 35294-2041 USA
| | - Emily Schulz
- Arizona School of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy; A.T. Still University; 5850 E. Still Circle Mesa AZ 85206 USA
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de Roda ABL, Moreno ES, Montero IV, Churnin S. Support groups and cardiac rehabilitation: effects of partner participation on anxiety and depression. THE SPANISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2014; 17:E10. [PMID: 25011462 DOI: 10.1017/sjp.2014.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study analyzes the effect on levels of patient anxiety and depression of a partner joining a cardiac rehabilitation program support group, also taking into account the sex of the patient. The study was undertaken using a two-group comparison design with pre-and post-test measures in non-equivalent groups. The sample comprised patients in the cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Madrid (Spain). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed direct effects of sex and partner participation in support groups on the anxiety trait. Similarly, interaction effects were observed between the sex variable and partner participation. These results indicate the pertinence of designing separate groups for patients and partners.
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Gallagher S, O'Donnell AT, Minescu A, Muldoon OT. A commentary on 'The effects of identification with a support group on the mental health of people with multiple sclerosis'. J Psychosom Res 2013; 75:294. [PMID: 23972421 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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