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Kelly JF, Levy S, Matlack M. A systematic qualitative study investigating why individuals attend, and what they like, dislike, and find most helpful about, smart recovery, alcoholics anonymous, both, or neither. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2024; 161:209337. [PMID: 38492804 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some individuals seeking recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) while others choose newer alternatives such as Self-Management and Recovery Training ("SMART" Recovery). Some even attend both, while some choose not to attend either. Little is known about why people choose which pathway(s), and what they like, dislike, and find helpful. Greater knowledge could provide insights into the phenomenology of recovery experiences and enhance the efficiency of clinical linkage to these resources. METHODS Cross-sectional, qualitative, investigation (N = 80; n = 20 per condition; 50%female) of individuals attending either AA-only, SMART-only, both, or neither. Participants were asked why they initially chose that pathway, what they like and dislike, and what helps. Responses were coded using an inductive grounded theory approach with utterances recorded and categorized into superordinate domains and rank-ordered in terms of frequency across each question and recovery pathway. RESULTS AA participants reported attending due to, as well as liking and finding most helpful, the common socio-community aspects, whereas SMART attendees went initially due to, as well as found most helpful, the different format as well as the CBT/science-based approach. Similar to AA, however, SMART participants liked the socio-community aspects most. "Both" participants reported liking and finding helpful these perceived relative strengths of each organization. "Neither" participants reported reasons for non-attendance related to lower problem severity - perceiving no need to attend, and anxiety about privacy, but reported using recovery-related change strategies similar to those prescribed by AA, SMART and treatment (e.g., stimulus control, competing behaviors). Common dislikes for AA and SMART centered around irritation due to other members behaviors, a need for more SMART meetings, and negative experiences with SMART facilitators. CONCLUSION Common impressions exist among individuals selecting different recovery pathway choices, but also some differences in keeping with the group dynamics and distinct approaches inherent in AA and SMART. AA attendees appear to go initially for the recovery buoyancy derived from the social ethos and camaraderie of lived experience and may end up staying for the same reason; those choosing SMART, in contrast, appear to attend initially for the CBT/science-based content and different approach but, like AA participants, may end up staying due to the same camaraderie of lived experience. Those participating in both AA and SMART appear to capitalize on the strengths of each organization, suggesting that some can psychologically accommodate and make use of theoretically distinct, and sometimes opposing, philosophies and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Kelly
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Psychiatry Department, United States of America; Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, United States of America.
| | - Samuel Levy
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Psychiatry Department, United States of America
| | - Maya Matlack
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Psychiatry Department, United States of America
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2
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Elswick A, Murdock M, Fallin-Bennett A. Enhancing Role Integrity for Peer Workers. Community Ment Health J 2024; 60:124-130. [PMID: 37401957 PMCID: PMC10799832 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01156-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Although informal peer support has been a central feature of recovery for people with substance use disorder (SUD), more recently there has been a stark increase in formal models of peer support. In the infancy of formalized peer support, researchers warned of potential threats to the integrity of the peer support role. Now, almost two decades into the rapid expansion of peer support, research has yet to evaluate the extent to which peer support is being implemented with fidelity and role integrity. The present study aimed to assess peer workers' perceptions of peer role integrity. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 peer workers in Central Kentucky. Results suggest that the role of peers is not well understood by onboarding organizations, and thus, the integrity of peer support is diluted. Findings from this study suggest room for improvement in the training, supervision, and implementation of peer support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Elswick
- Department of Family Sciences , University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
- Voices of Hope-Lexington, Inc., Lexington, USA.
| | - Melinda Murdock
- Department of Family Sciences , University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA
| | - Amanda Fallin-Bennett
- Voices of Hope-Lexington, Inc., Lexington, USA
- College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA
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3
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Manning V, Roxburgh AD, Savic M. Piloting the integration of SMART Recovery into outpatient alcohol and other drug treatment programs. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2023; 18:52. [PMID: 37674227 PMCID: PMC10481580 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-023-00406-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research suggests peer support groups can amplify and extend treatment effects and enhance long-term recovery from Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) problems. However, they are rarely integrated into outpatient treatment programs, resulting in a missed opportunity for peer-to-peer learning, and increased connection to others social networks where people want to reduce or cease substance use. METHOD In this mixed-methods study, we examined the uptake, participant experiences and impacts of Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) when embedded in three public AOD treatment programs in a pilot program in Australia. Groups were delivered initially in-person but transitioned online during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS A total of 75 SMART Recovery groups were run by the pilot sites, with an average attendance of 6.5 people per meeting. Among Participants (N = 31) who completed the survey, 94% reported benefits relating to substance use (i.e., reduction/ successful maintenance of abstinence), 71% reported improvements in their mental health and wellbeing, 74% reported improvements in their physical health, and 81% reported feeling better connected with others. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 participants to explore their experiences. Thematic analysis revealed four themes: motivation to attend, active ingredients, views on the integration of SMART into formal AOD, and the advantages and disadvantages of online groups. CONCLUSION Taken together, these findings suggest embedding SMART Recovery in AOD treatment is a worthwhile endeavour. This was indicated by a good uptake and evidence of multiple and unique benefits to participants over and above their usual care, notably, better management of their AOD use, health, wellbeing, and sense of connection with others.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Manning
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Turning Point, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Australia
| | - A D Roxburgh
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
- Turning Point, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Australia.
| | - M Savic
- Monash Addiction Research Centre, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Turning Point, Eastern Health, Box Hill, Australia
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Penfold KL, Ogden J. The Role of Social Support and Belonging in Predicting Recovery from Problem Gambling. J Gambl Stud 2023:10.1007/s10899-023-10225-y. [PMID: 37284990 DOI: 10.1007/s10899-023-10225-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Research indicates a role for both social support and belonging in addiction recovery, however little is known about the role of these constructs in the recovery from problem gambling, and whether they relate to the effectiveness of mutual aid groups such as Gamblers Anonymous. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the relationship between social support and belonging, and to assess the role of demographics (including group membership of GA), social support and/or belongingness in predicting gambling addiction recovery in terms of gambling urges and quality of life. Using a cross sectional design, participants identifying as having problem gambling (n = 60) completed an online questionnaire with two independent variables (Social Support and Belonging), two dependent variables (Gambling Urges and Quality of Life) to assess gambling addiction recovery and measures of GA membership. The results showed no significant association between gender, age, ethnicity, education or employment status and gambling urges or quality of life. Membership to GA, and length of membership were significantly associated with gambling recovery indicating that being a member of GA and longer membership was associated with lower gambling urges and higher quality of life. Further, the results showed a high but not perfect correlation between social support and belonging (r(58) = .81, p = < .01). A regression analysis showed that although there was a significant correlation between social support and belongingness, they played different roles in gambling addiction recovery. Social support alone predicted higher quality of life, but not a reduction in gambling urges; belonging (along with being a member of GA) predicted a reduction in gambling urges, but not an increase in quality of life. Social support and belonging have a differential impact on aspects of gambling addiction, and should be considered as different constructs. In particular, whilst the process underpinning reduced gambling urges is membership of GA and the sense of belonging it provides its members, social support per se is a better predictor of quality of life. These findings have implications for the development of treatment for problem gamblers in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy L Penfold
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Jane Ogden
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
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Kerstetter K, Bonner D, Cleland K, De Jesús-Martin M, Quintanilla R, Best AL, Hazzard D, Carter J. Social solidarity, social infrastructure, and community food access. Agric Human Values 2023; 40:1-13. [PMID: 37359845 PMCID: PMC10069343 DOI: 10.1007/s10460-023-10428-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the case of community resource mobilization within the context of a farmers market incentive program in Washington D.C., USA to illustrate the ways in which providing opportunities for people impacted by food inequities to develop and lead programming can help to promote food access. Through an analysis of interviews with 36 participants in the Produce Plus program, some of whom also served as paid staff and volunteers with the program, this study examines the ways that group-level social interactions among program participants helped to ensure the program was accessible and accountable to the primarily Black communities that it serves. Specifically, we explore a particular set of social interactions, which we collectively term social solidarity, as a community-level form of social infrastructure that program volunteers and participants mobilized to support access to fresh, local food in their communities. We also examine the elements of the Produce Plus program that contributed to the flow of social solidarity within the program, providing insight into the ways in which the structure of food access programs can serve as a social conduit to facilitate or hinder the mobilization of community cultural resources like social solidarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Kerstetter
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive 3G5, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
| | - Drew Bonner
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive 3G5, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
| | - Kristopher Cleland
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive 3G5, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
| | - Mia De Jesús-Martin
- Center for Social Science Research, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive 1H5, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
| | - Rachelle Quintanilla
- Center for Social Science Research, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive 1H5, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
| | - Amy L. Best
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive 3G5, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
| | - Dominique Hazzard
- Department of History, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
| | - Jordan Carter
- Jordan Curry Carter LLC, 1629 K St. Suite #300 NW, Washington, DC 20006 USA
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Glassman HS, Moensted ML, Rhodes P, Buus N. Obvious benefits but hidden costs: A critical exploration of the impact of adopting the "master narrative" in Alcoholics Anonymous. J Subst Use Addict Treat 2023; 148:209010. [PMID: 36931603 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.209010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION New members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) typically acquire a distinct "alcoholic" identity, including AA-specific understandings of their "alcoholism" and what it means to be in recovery. Although much qualitative research on AA has presented the experiences of members who have embraced this identity and have been wholly praising of AA, other theorists have been strongly critical of the organization, often arguing that it emulates a cult. To contribute towards reconciling these competing bodies of research, the current study aimed to critically explore the impact of adopting AA's master narrative. METHODS The study involved 19 prospective, in-depth semi-structured interviews with six AA members recruited from meetings across Sydney, Australia. Data were analyzed thematically using a master narrative theoretical framework. RESULTS The study identified three core components of AA's master narrative: (1) Powerlessness over alcohol ("alcoholics" are powerless over alcohol); (2) Internalized pathologization ("alcoholics" are mentally and emotionally sick, above and beyond their problems with alcohol); and (3) AA as the only solution for wellness (involvement in AA is the necessary requirement for "alcoholics" to become and remain well). Although most participants emphasized the positive experiences from internalizing the AA narrative, our analysis also revealed potentially negative ramifications of this narrative on their self-conceptions and worldviews that were seemingly unrecognized by participants themselves. CONCLUSIONS The master narrative framework facilitated a critical and balanced exploration of AA members' experiences. Although AA's master narrative is valuable for members, it could also carry costs that need to be mitigated by resources both inside and outside of AA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Glassman
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Maja L Moensted
- Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Central Clinical School, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Rhodes
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Niels Buus
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Regional Health Services, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Abstract
Activists have responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by organizing for mutual aid: creating collective action to meet people's material needs and build ties of solidarity. I examine the difficulties encountered by mutual aid activists during the pandemic through Alberto Melucci's notions of latency and collective identity. Through digital ethnographic observations of the Instagram accounts of mutual aid groups based in Philadelphia, USA, as well as interviews with the activists, I explore how mutual aid, conceptualized as latency work, was practiced by activists in the unprecedented conditions of the pandemic and how activists approached collective identity processes. I show that activists experienced a compression of latency and mobilization within the crisis context of the pandemic, which made it more difficult for them to pursue the construction of a collective identity. I also suggest that the effects of this compression were further exacerbated by the logic of immediacy that characterizes social network sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Ferrari
- Department of Sociology, School of Social and Political Sciences, Adam Smith Building, Bute Gardens, G12 8RT Glasgow, UK
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8
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Ntontis E, Fernandes-Jesus M, Mao G, Dines T, Kane J, Karakaya J, Perach R, Cocking C, McTague M, Schwarz A, Semlyen J, Drury J. Tracking the nature and trajectory of social support in Facebook mutual aid groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct 2022; 76:103043. [PMID: 35601394 PMCID: PMC9106594 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of mutual aid groups were established on social media and operated as platforms through which people could offer or request social support. Considering the importance of Facebook mutual aid groups during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom but also the lack of empirical research regarding the trajectories and types of social support rendered available through the groups, our aims in this paper are threefold; first, to examine the trajectory of social support-related activity during the period between March-December 2020; second, to compare offers and requests of support during the peaks of the first and second waves; third to provide a rich analysis of the types of social support that were offered or requested through the online mutual aid groups. Quantitative findings suggest that online social support activity declined soon after the peak of the first pandemic wave and, at least in Facebook mutual aid groups, did not reach the levels observed during the first wave. Also, the number of offers of support during the first wave was higher compared to offers during the second wave, and similar was the case for requests for support. Additionally, offers for support were higher compared to requests for support during both the first and second waves. Finally, qualitative analysis showed that people used the Facebook mutual aid groups to offer and request various types of practical, emotional, and informational support. Limitations as well as implications of our study are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelos Ntontis
- School of Psychology and Counselling, The Open University, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Fernandes-Jesus
- School of Education, Languages and Psychology, York St John University, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Guanlan Mao
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Dines
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom
| | - Jazmin Kane
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua Karakaya
- School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom
| | - Rotem Perach
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Cocking
- School of Humanities & Applied Social Sciences, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anna Schwarz
- The World Food Project, Hot Food for Hollingdean, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Semlyen
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
- NR2 Mutual Aid/COVID-19 Community Response, United Kingdom
| | - John Drury
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
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9
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Copeland N. Liberation extension: building capacities for civilizational transition. Agric Human Values 2022; 39:859-870. [PMID: 35106024 PMCID: PMC8794225 DOI: 10.1007/s10460-022-10295-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
COVID 19 has exacerbated and underscored structural inequalities and endemic vulnerabilities in food, economic, and social systems, compounding concerns about environmental sustainability and racial and economic justice. Convergent crises have amplified a growing chorus of voices and movements calling for new thinking and new practices to adapt to these shifts, mitigate their impact, and address their root causes through far reaching changes in social and economic life and values, including breaking with the free market paradigm. In the face of a historic choice between transition or multiple systems collapse that deepen injustice and threaten planetary survival, I make the case for expanding on liberatory tendencies in Extension programs to build capacities for response-ability to transition toward more just and sustainable futures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Copeland
- Department of History, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, 431 Major Williams Hall (0117), 220 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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10
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Lofton S, Kersten M, Simonovich SD, Martin A. Mutual aid organisations and their role in reducing food insecurity in Chicago's urban communities during COVID-19. Public Health Nutr 2021;:1-4. [PMID: 34462038 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980021003736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted food security and food access in urban communities of colour. Loss of income, often associated with food insecurity, has affected Hispanic, Black, low-wage workers, single mothers and women of colour more than other groups of individuals. Mutual aid organisations have proliferated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet a description of the contributions of these organisations in addressing food insecurity has yet to be described in the literature to date. This article aims to describe the unique role and contributions of mutual aid organisations in addressing food insecurity and food access disparities in Chicago’s communities of colour during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local mutual aid organisations can function as hubs to feed urban communities while reducing food waste and building community. During the pandemic, mutual aid organisations in Chicago have distributed thousands of pounds of food to families and individuals. Mutual aid organisations provide short-term food security while engaging with community members to create a more equitable and sustainable food system. The development of robust mutual aid hubs facilitated unique opportunities for collaboration and expansion of infrastructure that may allow mutual aid organisations to address food access in their communities well into the future.
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Penfold KL, Ogden J. Exploring the experience of Gamblers Anonymous meetings during COVID-19: a qualitative study. Curr Psychol 2021; 41:8200-8213. [PMID: 34421284 PMCID: PMC8367765 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02089-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Whilst much research has explored the possible causes and consequences of gambling, Gamblers Anonymous (GA) − one of the most accessed forms of support for gamblers - has been largely overlooked and, to date, only a few studies have explored how members experience this programme. Core to GA is the social interaction between members. From March 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic forced GA to move their meetings online. The present qualitative study therefore explored how GA members experienced these online meetings in the absence of actual face to face interactions with others. Individual telephone or video call interviews (n = 21) were carried out with members of GA in the UK and analysed using Thematic Analysis. The results described three main themes: (1) ‘practicalities of GA in lockdown’, which highlighted the practical benefits of online meetings such as more opportunity to attend different meetings, which in turn expanded participants’ perspectives and social networks; (2) ‘the importance of relationships in GA’, reflecting strong and enduring social networks that were created, maintained, and strengthened by feelings of solidarity; and (3) ‘therapeutic elements of the meetings’, such as psychological contract making which helped participants to stay abstinent. Transcending these themes was a tension between individual versus group identity with interviewees reporting a shift to focusing more on their own needs rather than those of the group. Overall, whilst still providing a lifeline during COVID-19 and offering some practical benefits, the online GA meetings were not able to completely replicate the value individuals gained from face to face meetings. This transition also resulted in disruptions both to group dynamics and to individual interactions within each group, ultimately resulting in participants behaving more individualistically and less collectively than in face-to-face meetings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy L Penfold
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH UK
| | - Jane Ogden
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH UK
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12
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Mao G, Fernandes-Jesus M, Ntontis E, Drury J. What have we learned about COVID-19 volunteering in the UK? A rapid review of the literature. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1470. [PMID: 34320922 PMCID: PMC8318044 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11390-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community engagement and volunteering are essential for the public response to COVID-19. Since March 2020 a large number of people in the UK have been regularly doing unpaid activities to benefit others besides their close relatives. Although most mutual aid groups emerged from local neighbourhoods and communities, official public institutions also fostered community volunteering, namely through the community champions scheme. By considering a broad definition of COVID-19 volunteering, this article describes a systematic review of the literature focused on one broad question: What have we learned about COVID-19 volunteering both at the UK national level and the more local community level? METHODS A rapid review of the literature in peer-reviewed databases and grey literature was applied in our search, following the PRISMA principles. The search was conducted from 10 to 16 of October 2020, and sources were included on the basis of having been published between January and October 2020, focusing on COVID-19 and addressing community groups, volunteering groups, volunteers, or community champions in the UK. RESULTS After initial screening, a total of 40 relevant sources were identified. From these, 27 were considered eligible. Findings suggest that food shopping and emotional support were the most common activities, but there were diverse models of organisation and coordination in COVID-19 volunteering. Additionally, community support groups seem to be adjusting their activities and scope of action to current needs and challenges. Volunteers were mostly women, middle-class, highly educated, and working-age people. Social networks and connections, local knowledge, and social trust were key dimensions associated with community organising and volunteering. Furthermore, despite the efforts of a few official public institutions and councils, there has been limited community engagement and collaboration with volunteering groups and other community-based organisations. CONCLUSIONS We identified important factors for fostering community engagement and COVID-19 volunteering as well as gaps in the current literature. We suggest that future research should be directed towards deepening knowledge on sustaining community engagement, collaboration and community participation over time, during and beyond this pandemic.
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13
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Cronk L, Guevara Beltrán D, Mercado DL, Aktipis A. "A Solidarity-Type World": Need-Based Helping among Ranchers in the Southwestern United States. Hum Nat 2021; 32:482-508. [PMID: 34240310 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-021-09406-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
To better understand risk management and mutual aid among American ranchers, we interviewed and mailed a survey to ranchers in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, and Cochise County, Arizona, focusing on two questions: (1) When do ranchers expect repayment for the help they provide others? (2) What determines ranchers' degrees of involvement in networks of mutual aid, which they refer to as "neighboring"? When needs arise due to unpredictable events, such as injuries, most ranchers reported not expecting to be paid back for the help they provide. When help is provided for something that follows a known schedule or that can be scheduled, such as branding, most ranchers did expect something in return for the help they provide. This pattern makes sense in light of computational modeling that shows that transfers to those in need without expectations of repayment pool risk more effectively than transfers that create debt. Ranchers reported helping other ranchers more often when they belonged to more religious and civic organizations, when they owned larger ranches, when they relied less on ranch vs. other income, and when they had more relatives in the area. Operators of midsize ranches reported helping other ranchers more frequently than did those on smaller and larger ranches. None of our independent variables predicted how many times ranchers reported receiving help from other ranchers. Although ranch culture in the American West is often characterized by an ethic of individualism and independence, our study suggests that this ethic stands alongside an ethic of mutual aid during times of need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Cronk
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901-1414, USA.
| | | | - Denise Laya Mercado
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901-1414, USA
| | - Athena Aktipis
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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14
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Kuroiwa S, Kita K, Kuroiwa M, Yoshida K, Minami S, Yamashiro S. [Do elderly people providing nursing or caring for others help the providers maintain their health?]. Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi 2021; 58:235-244. [PMID: 34039800 DOI: 10.3143/geriatrics.58.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
AIM The present study clarified the relationship between elderly individuals providing nursing or caring for others, including their spouses, and their own health maintenance over three years. METHODS Study participants were those who had completed the "Survey of Needs in the Spheres of Daily Life" distributed to all elderly individuals ≥65 years old in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture, Japan, in both 2014 and 2017. We evaluated data from 6,088 individuals after excluding those with insufficient data. Detailed responses were analyzed in order to understand the situation of the people to whom the respondents were providing nursing or care (e.g. spouses or others), the presence or absence of providing this nursing or care, and the relationship between these factors and the providers' health maintenance over a period of three years using multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS Even after adjusting for critical variables, including basic attributes, overall health, and functional capacity in elderly men, among the subjects who had partners to whom they provided nursing or care, including a spouse, the number of individuals whose own health was maintained 3 years later was higher than among those who did not provide such nursing or care (odds ratio [OR], 1.67; P = 0.004). Furthermore, compared to women who did not provide nursing or care, the OR for women who did provide care for people others than their spouses was 1.44 (P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that providing nursing or caring for others (including a spouse for elderly men; excluding a spouse for elderly women) has a positive impact on health maintenance among the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Kuroiwa
- Department of General Medicine, Toyama University Hospital
| | - Keiichiro Kita
- Department of General Medicine, Toyama University Hospital
| | - Maiko Kuroiwa
- Department of General Medicine, Toyama University Hospital
| | | | - Shinji Minami
- Executive Policy Adviser to Nanto-city (Former Director of Nanto Municipal Hospital)
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Loizidou E. Planetary Confinement: Bio-Politics and Mutual Aid. Law Crit 2021; 32:133-138. [PMID: 38624862 PMCID: PMC8102836 DOI: 10.1007/s10978-021-09295-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Michel Foucault's modes of power (sovereign, disciplinary and bio-politics) have dominated both our understanding of power and norm. It is pretty impossible to think of the organisation of life outside his thinking. Here I argue that the idea and practice of mutual aid, articulated by Peter Kropotkin in his 1902 book Mutual Aid (2009) stirs us towards a different understanding of the management of life, bereft of hierarchies and bestowed with co-operation and care. Moreover, as I argue, the existence of mutual aid groups and practices challenges the very idea of the norm. This has become even more apparent during the Covid19 pandemic with the surfacing of mutual aid groups globally. It is therefore rather misleading to understand our present as generator of the 'new normal'; such claims are mere rhetorical devices aiming at keeping us in our place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Loizidou
- Reader in Law and Political Theory, School of Law, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX UK
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16
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Fuentenebro P. Will philanthropy save us all? Rethinking urban philanthropy in a time of crisis. Geoforum 2020; 117:304-307. [PMID: 32981949 PMCID: PMC7506357 DOI: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, philanthropy has been quick to react to the call for help from Governments and International Organisations. And yet, despite the overwhelming response, increasing attention has been brought to the intricate ways in which philanthropists and billionaires have been asserting their presence through their actions and influence in different spheres of power. In this commentary, I challenge the idea that philanthropy can be the solution to all of our problems, and highlight some of the problematic issues that emerge when philanthropy is put at the forefront of the discussion. Also, I point out to other elements that have been left out, including the wave of collective solidarity that has been channelled through mutual aid groups and organisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Fuentenebro
- Connected Cities Lab, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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17
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Ni Y, Fabbri M, Zhang C, Stewart KA. Reciprocity in Quarantine: Observations from Wuhan's COVID-19 Digital Landscapes. Asian Bioeth Rev 2020;:1-23. [PMID: 33235632 DOI: 10.1007/s41649-020-00150-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2003 SARS pandemic heralded the return of quarantine as a vital part of twenty-first century public health practice. Over the last two decades, MERS, Ebola, and other emerging infectious diseases each posed unique challenges for applying quarantine ethics lessons learned from the 2003 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak. In an increasingly interdependent and connected global world, the use of quarantine to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, similarly poses new and unexpected ethical challenges. In this essay, we look beyond standard debates about the ethics of quarantine and state power to explore a key quarantine principle, Reciprocity, and how it is being negotiated by healthcare workers, volunteers, and citizens in the context of the Wuhan, China, quarantine. We analyze Reciprocity through the lens of two Wuhan case studies: (1) healthcare workers, particularly nurses, who are simultaneously essential workers and quarantined citizens, asked by their hospital administration to shave their heads because adequate PPE was not available, and (2) citizen-to-citizen mutual aid societies attempting to fill gaps in essential supplies left unfilled by the state. We analyze social media and video-blogs from Wuhan, on the platforms of Douyin and Sina Weibo, to understand how people define and respond to ethical and legal obligations in the wake of COVID-19. It is no surprise that quarantine principles from the 2003 SARS outbreak are inadequate for COVID-19 and that both infectious disease outbreak responses and ethics must adapt to the virtual age. We offer ideas to strengthen and clarify Reciprocal obligations for the state, hospital administrators, and citizens as the globe prepares for the next wave of COVID-19 circulating now.
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18
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Best D, Manning V, Allsop S, Lubman D. Does the effectiveness of mutual aid depend on compatibility with treatment philosophies offered at residential rehabilitation services? Addict Behav 2020; 103:106221. [PMID: 31918392 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Residential rehabilitation treatment (including both Therapeutic Communities (TC) and non-TC rehabs) is a key component of service delivery for people seeking treatment for substance use disorders in Australia and globally. While mutual aid is often associated with better long-term outcomes, there is little evidence about whether inconsistencies between residential rehabilitation philosophies and particular types of mutual aid influence subsequent engagement and treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE To assess the uptake of mutual aid groups (12-step and other) on individuals leaving TC (n = 58) or non-TC (n = 78) residential treatment, and measure its impact on substance use outcomes. METHODS Using secondary analysis of existing data, the current paper reports on 12-month outcomes from a prospective cohort study of 230 individuals entering specialist alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation treatment in two Australian states. RESULTS Participants who attended TC settings were more likely to attend non-spiritual mutual aid groups (i.e., SMART Recovery) than non-TC residents. Engaging in mutual aid groups was associated with significantly improved outcomes for the non-TC residents only, where it significantly predicted abstinence (OR = 5.8, CI = 1.5-18.46) and reduced frequency of use of participants' primary drug of concern (OR = 8.6, CI = 2.6-28.6). CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE Although 12-step is the most readily available and accessible form of mutual aid in Australia and benefited those attending non-TC residential rehabilitation, individuals exiting a TC program (whether they have completed treatment or not) may benefit from other forms of post-treatment recovery support, including alternative forms of peer-based support. The findings suggest treatment outcomes may be enhanced when the philosophies of residential treatment and post-discharge mutual aid are more compatible.
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Warren K, Campbell B, Cranmer S, De Leon G, Doogan N, Weiler M, Doherty F. Building the community: Endogenous network formation, homophily and prosocial sorting among therapeutic community residents. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 207:107773. [PMID: 31812853 PMCID: PMC6981033 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Researchers have begun to consider the ways in which social networks influence therapeutic community (TC) treatment outcomes. However, there are few studies of the way in which the social networks of TC residents develop over the course of treatment. METHODOLOGY We used a Temporal Exponential Random Graph Model (TERGM) to analyze changes in social networks totaling 320,387 peer affirmations exchanged between residents in three correctional TCs, one of which serves men and two of which serve both men and women. The networks were analyzed within weekly and monthly time-frames. RESULTS Within a weekly time-frame residents tended to close triads. Residents who were not previously connected tended not to affirm the same peers. Residents showed homophily by entry cohort. Other results were inconsistent across TC units. Within a monthly time-frame participants showed homophily by graduation status. They showed the same patterns of triadic closure when connected, tendency not to affirm the same peers when not connected and homophily by cohort entry time as in a weekly time frame. CONCLUSIONS TCs leverage three human tendencies to bring about change. The first is the tendency of cooperators to work together, in this case in seeking graduation. The second is the tendency of people to build clusters. The third is homophily, in this case by cohort entry time. Consistent with TC clinical theory, residents spread affirmations to a variety of peers when they have no previous connection. This suggests that residents balance network clustering with a concern for the community as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Warren
- The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 N. College Road Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Benjamin Campbell
- The Ohio State University Department of Political Science, 154 N Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Skyler Cranmer
- The Ohio State University Department of Political Science, 154 N Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - George De Leon
- New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, 433 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Nathan Doogan
- Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center, 1070 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Mackenzie Weiler
- The Ohio State University Department of Political Science, 154 N Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Fiona Doherty
- The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 N. College Road Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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20
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Dale E, Kelly PJ, Lee KSK, Conigrave JH, Ivers R, Clapham K. Systematic review of addiction recovery mutual support groups and Indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States of America and Hawaii. Addict Behav 2019; 98:106038. [PMID: 31302311 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Addictions contribute significantly to the overall disease burden for Indigenous peoples of colonised countries. Mutual support groups are one of the most common addiction recovery resources, however their effectiveness for Indigenous peoples is unclear. METHODS A PRISMA-informed search was performed to retrieve empirical studies on addiction recovery mutual support groups for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States of America and Hawaii. Databases searched were: MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, PsychINFO, PsychARTICLES, SocINDEX, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, Scopus and UlrichsWeb, Informit Collections, Australian Indigenous HealthInfonet and Lowitja Institute electronic databases. Exclusion criteria were: 1) not an Indigenous focus; 2) not an addiction focus (i.e. including alcohol, other drug, gambling); 3) not a mutual support group focus; 4) not an original study; 5) not a complete study; 6) not published in English language. RESULTS Four studies published between 2001 and 2006 met review criteria. All studies were conducted in the United States of America with Native American Indian peoples (n = 1600) and featured Alcoholics Anonymous only. Study designs were: a retrospective analysis of survey data, a cross-sectional survey report, a clinical case study and an ethnographic study. Methodological differences precluded meaningful translation of results. CONCLUSION There is a lack of empirical knowledge on the acceptability and outcomes of addiction recovery mutual support groups for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States of America and Hawaii. This review suggests recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dale
- Ngarruwan Ngadju First Peoples Health and Wellbeing Research Center, Australian Health Services Research Institute and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Peter J Kelly
- Ngarruwan Ngadju First Peoples Health and Wellbeing Research Center, Australian Health Services Research Institute and Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - K S Kylie Lee
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Indigenous Health and Substance Use, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Indigenous Health and Alcohol, New South Wales, Australia; La Trobe University, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Victoria, Australia
| | - James H Conigrave
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Indigenous Health and Substance Use, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Indigenous Health and Alcohol, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rowena Ivers
- School of Medicine, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia; Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kathleen Clapham
- Ngarruwan Ngadju First Peoples Health and Wellbeing Research Center, Australian Health Services Research Institute, Faculty of Business, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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21
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Kelly JF, Hoffman L, Vilsaint C, Weiss R, Nierenberg A, Hoeppner B. Peer support for mood disorder: Characteristics and benefits from attending the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance mutual-help organization. J Affect Disord 2019; 255:127-135. [PMID: 31150942 PMCID: PMC6591033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mood disorders (MDs) are pervasive and debilitating psychiatric conditions. Many helpful psychological and psychopharmacological treatments exist, but MD's prevalence and chronicity often means relying purely on professional care can create financial strain on individuals and healthcare systems. Also, many individuals respond only partially to professionally-delivered medical/pharmacological interventions or are unable to tolerate or adhere to them. Peer-led mutual-help organizations (MHOs) have emerged and grown in the U.S. to extend and potentiate professional efforts or otherwise address needs unmet by professional care. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the largest of these, but beyond observational evidence, little is known about participation or benefits. Greater knowledge could inform the field regarding clinical and public health utility of peer-driven efforts. METHOD Community-based cross-sectional comparative investigation of MD individuals attending (N = 202) or not attending (N = 105) DBSA. Measures included demographics, clinical characteristics and clinical service use, and indices of symptomatology, functioning, quality of life (QOL), and psychological well-being. RESULTS Compared to non-DBSA participants, DBSA participants were more likely to be male and white and trended toward greater religious affiliation (p = 0.05). DBSA participants attended meetings about twice per month with two-thirds attending for more than one year. The DBSA cohort had a much higher proportion with bipolar I disorder and reported more lifetime and past 90-day use of acute, intensive, medical services and medications. There were no between-group differences on indices of QOL or psychological well-being, but within the DBSA group, greater DBSA attendance and involvement was associated with greater QOL and well-being, and less functional impairment. LIMITATIONS Cross-sectional design and regional sampling frame with unknown generalizability to national DBSA membership. CONCLUSION Given the grave impact of MDs and that DBSA is freely available it may fill an important clinical and public health need by attracting and engaging MD individuals with greater functional instability and impairment. The positive association found between greater active DBSA participation and improvements in functioning and well-being, while promising, requires longitudinal investigation to formally establish the causal direction of effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Kelly
- Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School 151 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Lauren Hoffman
- Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School 151 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Corrie Vilsaint
- Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School 151 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114
| | | | - Andrew Nierenberg
- Bipolar Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
| | - Bettina Hoeppner
- Recovery Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School 151 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114
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22
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Abstract
As grassroots user/survivor movements gained traction across the Global North, mental health activists have provided mutual aid for those who consider themselves to be negatively affected by their psychiatrization experiences and for those in search of alternative (non-biopsychiatric) frameworks for understanding mental diversity. In addition to in-person support groups, digital communication has become an integral organizing mechanism for mutual aid actions to support those in mental distress. However, activists have often found both digital and face-to-face communication to be quite taxing to their own well-being-as they negotiate personal capacity to respond to collective needs and practice self-care through limiting their engagements in radical mental health communities. While engaging in an ethnography with a mutual aid community in the United States, I explored the use of "boundary formation" to set parameters for social engagement within digital support and face-to-face encounters. Semi-structured interviews with 14 participants, focus group discussions, participatory observation, and an analysis of digital communication revealed that group members often discussed setting personal boundaries as an act of self-care, a recognition of the pitfalls associated with engaging in group dynamics during times of mental distress, and as a practice to ensure communal longevity. The ways that participants discussed and enacted boundary formation are analyzed in this paper as a way of blocking, redirecting, and restructuring digital and in-person engagements within mutual aid assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Hua Fletcher
- Hope and Healing Center & Institute, 717 Sage Rd, Houston, TX, 77056, USA.
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23
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Kofahl C. Associations of collective self-help activity, health literacy and quality of life in patients with tinnitus. Patient Educ Couns 2018; 101:2170-2178. [PMID: 30029811 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE About 800 of the 13,000 members of the German Tinnitus Association (DTL) are active in self-help groups (SHGs). This study analyzes whether SHG-participation is associated with tinnitus-related Health Literacy (HLit) and Quality of Life (QoL). METHODS In a cross-sectional study 1108 tinnitus patients in- and outside of SHGs administered a questionnaire containing tinnitus-related burden, QoL, tinnitus knowledge, self-management, assessment of SHGs, and socio-demographics. Participants were divided into four subgroups: (1) active SHG-members (19.6%), (2) former SHG-members (10.6%), (3) DTL-members, but not in SHG (57.9%), (4) neither DTL- nor SHG-members (11.9%). RESULTS Participant were 59.7% male and 61.3 years on average. SHG-attendees are on average 5 years older than non-attendees, and have a lower education, while there are no differences in gender-distribution. Regression analyses show significant associations between SHG-participation and tinnitus knowledge, coping and self-esteem. QoL, however, is not associated with SHG-participation. SHG-members report considerable further benefits from SHG-membership. CONCLUSIONS Despite the limitations through the cross-sectional design, it seems more likely that tinnitus-related HLit and other benefits are a result of SHG-participation than vice versa. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Health care providers should inform their patients about SHGs and encourage them to consider a SHG as a possible option for their self-management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Kofahl
- Institute of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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24
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Campbell BW, Cranmer S, Harvey C, Warren K. Therapeutic community graduates cluster together in social networks: Evidence for spatial selection as a cooperative mechanism in therapeutic communities. Addict Behav 2018; 79:74-80. [PMID: 29253660 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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25
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Chambers SE, Canvin K, Baldwin DS, Sinclair JMA. Identity in recovery from problematic alcohol use: A qualitative study of online mutual aid. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 174:17-22. [PMID: 28282522 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM To explore how engagement with online mutual aid facilitates recovery from problematic alcohol use, focusing on identity construction processes. DESIGN Qualitative in-depth interview study of a maximum variation sample. SETTING Telephone interviews with UK-based users of Soberistas, an online mutual aid group for people who are trying to resolve their problematic alcohol use. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-one members, ex-members and browsers of Soberistas (25 women, 6 men): seven currently drinking, the remainder with varying lengths of sobriety (two weeks to five years). FINDINGS Three key stages of engagement were identified: 1) 'Lurking' tended to occur early in participants' recovery journeys, where they were keen to maintain a degree of secrecy about their problematic alcohol use, but desired support from likeminded people. 2) Actively 'participating' on the site and creating accountability with other members often reflected an offline commitment to make changes in drinking behaviour. 3) 'Leading' was typically reserved for those securely alcohol-free and demonstrated a long-standing commitment to Soberistas; leaders described a sense of duty to give back to newer members in early recovery and many reported an authentic identity, defined by honesty, both on- and off-line. CONCLUSIONS Engagement with online mutual aid might support recovery by affording users the opportunity to construct and adjust their identities in relation to their problematic alcohol use; individuals can use the parameters of being online to protect their identity, but also as a mechanism to change and consolidate their offline alcohol-related identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia E Chambers
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
| | - Krysia Canvin
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David S Baldwin
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Julia M A Sinclair
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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26
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Abstract
Given the preponderance of Gamblers Anonymous (GA), there has been relatively little effort to explore the existing evidence base on its effectiveness as a recovery approach for problem gambling. To remedy this gap in the literature we conducted a scoping review of the literature on mutual aid for individuals experiencing problem gambling published between 2002 and 2015. We searched 13 databases and reviewed reference lists and websites of relevant organizations. We reviewed records for eligibility and extracted relevant data from eligible articles. Three reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. We identified 17 studies in 25 publications that were eligible for inclusion. Most studies were conducted in the United States, were cross-sectional in design, and involved both male and female adult participants. Results indicate that the evidence for the effectiveness of GA either as a control condition or in conjunction with formal treatment or medication is inconsistent. An emphasis on patience, using the Serenity Prayer as a way to gain acceptance of financial matters and reality, and absolute assertion of identity as a “compulsive gambler” were identified as important aspects of GA’s recovery culture. There is a need for large-scale randomized controlled trials to determine GA’s effectiveness, as well as research exploring the mechanisms through which GA works, barriers to GA as a recovery approach, and the status of women in the fellowship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrée Schuler
- Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Ferentzy
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nigel E Turner
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wayne Skinner
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kathryn E McIsaac
- Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carolyn P Ziegler
- Health Sciences Library, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Flora I Matheson
- Centre for Research on Inner City Health, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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27
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Rosenblum A, Matusow H, Fong C, Vogel H, Uttaro T, Moore TL, Magura S. Efficacy of dual focus mutual aid for persons with mental illness and substance misuse. Drug Alcohol Depend 2014; 135:78-87. [PMID: 24342419 PMCID: PMC4261224 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Revised: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have indicated that persons with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems can benefit by attending dual-focus mutual aid groups. However, to date, a trial to test the efficacy of these groups has not been published. METHOD This study randomly assigned 203 substance misusing clients attending a mental health or dual-diagnosis facility to either a dual-focus 12-step group (Double Trouble in Recovery; DTR) or a waiting list control group. Participants were followed for 3-6 months. The primary outcome was substance use (days used in the past 30 with saliva testing to detect under-reporting); secondary outcomes included psychiatric medication adherence, attendance at traditional (single-focus) 12-step meetings (e.g., AA/NA); and improvement in mental health and substance use problems (quality of life). Multilevel model (MLM) regression was used to analyze the nested effect of participants within 8 facilities (7 in New York City and 1 in Michigan). Regression imputation was used to adjust for drug use under-reporting. RESULTS At follow-up 79% of the subjects were interviewed. In intent to treat analysis, DTR subjects compared with control subjects used alcohol (p=.03) and any substances (p=.02) on fewer days. DTR compared with control subjects were also more likely to rate themselves as experiencing better mental health and fewer substance use problems (p=.001). There were no effects for DTR on drug use only, medication adherence or NA/AA attendance. CONCLUSION Findings reported in previous studies on the association between exposure to DTR and reductions in substance use were partially supported in this efficacy trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Rosenblum
- Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Harlan Matusow
- Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY 10010
| | - Chunki Fong
- Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY 10010
| | - Howard Vogel
- Double Trouble in Recovery, Inc., Brooklyn, NY 11235, at the time of the study
| | - Thomas Uttaro
- South Beach Psychiatric Center, Staten Island, NY, 10305, at the time of the study
| | | | - Stephen Magura
- The Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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