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Intrauterine fetal death, where nearly 400 infants die in utero each year in Sweden, has a profound impact on the mother and her life. It is difficult for her to return to everyday life after the loss, and how she is received in her role as a mother to a stillborn child is complex. Although healthcare has good research, further studies are needed to understand the extent of needs and experiences of support in this trauma. Additionally, awareness of the phenomenon among the community and other societal actors is limited. This study has explored mothers needs for support and the significance of support in cases of intrauterine fetal death. Drawing from my experience as a healthcare curator, I have examined the dynamics of support in various contexts mothers come into contact with. The method used is semi-structured interviews with a total of seven participating mothers to stillborn babies. The results describe both negative and positive experiences from a wide range of contexts to provide a comprehensive picture of mothers' need for support and the experiences of the significance of support. I found that a crucial role in mitigating grief is played by proactive and person-centered support, where the need for emotional presence, affirmation of the child's existence, and community with other parents are primary needs that need to be met.

Introduction: Chronic diseases have emerged as the foremost causes of death and disability worldwide. This article employs an ethnographic approach to conduct a gerontological investigation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of global mortality, trailing only cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Methods: This study is rooted in an extensive amalgamation of biomedical literature and official epidemiological data. Additionally, it offers enriched insights through an extensive ethnographic research methodology, encompassing ethnographic fieldwork, participant observation, interviews, and focus groups. Results: The findings expound that individuals grappling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often undergo intricate cognitive and emotional experiences, necessitating holistic solutions that consider psychological processes, contextual factors, and subjective age. These challenges extend beyond the purview of a purely medical perspective. Conclusion: This article concludes that the lens of gerontology is invaluable in comprehending chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly due to its association with old age and increased longevity. Among older individuals, diagnosing the condition presents a formidable challenge. Breathlessness, a cardinal symptom, often overlaps with normal age-related declines in pulmonary function, rendering COPD’s insidious onset misconstrued as a consequence of aging-related changes.

Children who grow up with one or both parents who substance misuse are at an elevated risk of being harmed. This study aimed to compile current knowledge on directed interventions intended to improve the outcomes of children who live in environments where adults misuse substances, and to analyze children’s influence and participation in interventions. The method used was a systematically undertaken scoping review. Despite a comprehensive searching strategy only ten relevant studies were found. There was a low geographical spread indicating the lack of intervention studies, including within Scandinavian settings. The result showed that nine out of ten interventions were group support. Interventions were manualised and primarily focused on changing children’s behaviour or increasing children’s general knowledge about misuse. Hart’s participation ladder was used to assess children’s degree of participation and influence in both intervention and research setting. Results indicated that children had low to mediocre degrees of participation. An implication for the future is that support groups showed positive effects on children’s attitudes towards misuse by increased knowledge about parental substance misuse. There is still a need for more intervention studies before it is possible to identify the best types of support for children affected by parental substance misuse., Barn som växer upp med en eller båda föräldrar med missbruk har en ökad risk för att fara illa. Denna studie syftade till att sammanställa tillgänglig kunskap om interventioner riktade mot barn med målet att stödja barn som växer upp i miljöer där vuxna har ett missbruk samt att analysera barns delaktighet och påverkan i interventioner. Metoden som användes var en systematiskt genomförd scoping review. Trots omfattande litteratursökningar bedömdes endast tio effektutvärderingar som relevanta för inklusion. Studierna hade låg geografisk spridning vilket visade på avsaknaden av effektutvärderingar, bland annat inom skandinavisk forskning. Resultatet visade att nio av tio interventioner var gruppstöd. Interventionerna var manualbaserade och fokuserade på att förändra barns beteende eller öka barns generella kunskap om missbruk. Harts delaktighetstrappa användes för att undersöka barns delaktighet och påverkan i interventioner och forskning. Resultatet indikerade att barn hade låg- till medelgrad av delaktighet. Ett fynd för framtiden är att stödgrupper visade på positiva effekter på barns attityd till missbruk genom ökad kunskap om vuxnas missbruk. Det finns fortsatt ett stort behov av att genomföra fler effektutvärderingar innan det är möjligt att konstatera vilken eller vilka interventioner för barn som fungerar bäst.

This study aims to discuss the main emerging themes in reflective groups on adoption developed through a research project and university extension program. We carried out participant observation in three group cycles for prospective adopters and three cycles for adoptive mothers and fathers. In the groups' meetings, we found five main themes with prospective adopters and five with adoptive mothers and fathers. It was possible to perceive the fears of the prospective adopters regarding what to expect from their future children, while the mothers and fathers were already experiencing and facing difficulties related to living together. Group work can be a fruitful way of working with the specific demands of prospective adopters, mothers, and fathers., O presente estudo objetiva discutir as principais temáticas emergentes em grupos reflexivos sobre adoção desenvolvidos por meio de um projeto de pesquisa e extensão universitária. Realizamos observação participante em três ciclos grupais para pretendentes à adoção e três ciclos para mães e pais por adoção. Nos processos grupais realizados, foram encontradas cinco principais temáticas nos grupos com pretendentes e cinco com mães e pais por adoção. Foi possível perceber os receios dos pretendentes em relação ao que esperar dos(as) futuros(as) filhos(as), ao passo que as mães e pais já estavam vivenciando e enfrentando dificuldades relacionadas à convivência. O trabalho grupal pode ser uma forma profícua de trabalhar as demandas específicas dos pretendentes, mães e pais., Este estudio tiene como objetivo discutir los principales temas emergentes de grupos reflexivos sobre la adopción desarrollados a través de un proyecto de investigación y extensión universitaria. Realizamos observación participante en tres ciclos grupales para solicitantes de adopción y tres ciclos para madres y padres por adopción. En los procesos grupales realizados, se encontraron cinco temas principales en los grupos con pretendientes y cinco con madres y padres. Se pudo percibir los temores de los solicitantes sobre qué esperar de sus futuros hijos e hijas, mientras que las madres y padres ya estaban experimentando y enfrentando dificultades relacionadas con la convivencia. El trabajo grupal puede ser una forma fructífera de trabajar con las demandas específicas de pretendientes, madres y padres.

Neuroendocrine conditions (illnesses impacting the relationship between the nervous system and hormone function) are complex, often manifesting as overlapping layers of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. As such, these conditions are highly specialized and often difficult to diagnose, treat, and receive adequate social support for. This project is a mixed-methods investigation of neuroendocrine support groups on Facebook, wherein I examine the difficulty of identifying and finding help for these nebulous neuroendocrine experiences as they slip fluidly between chemical, emotional, cognitive, situational, and social planes. Drawing on autoethnographic accounts of my own patient experience, ethnographic observations of Facebook support communities, and in-depth interviews with patient advocates and Facebook group administrators, I ask how people make sense of the embodied hormonal experiences that biomedicine might not provide satisfying answers for, and how neuroendocrine patients utilize online communities to help parse mind-body experiences that are deeply felt but also invisible, mysterious, and easily misunderstood.Part One — Facts — focuses on evidence and medical legitimacy: how people use Facebook support communities to plug the informational gaps in their own diagnosis and treatment paths, and the effects of these informational exchanges on patients and their social networks. Part Two — Feelings — focuses on the slipperiness between cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal experiences of neuroendocrine illness, and how patients conceptualize or compartmentalize their experiences to suit their individual needs. I suggest that facts and feelings are equally malleable — bended toward a variety of strategic, emotional, and social ends.

According to a recent United Nations report, “the COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 percent of the world’s student population, up to 99 percent in low and lower-middle-income countries” (United Nations Policy Brief, 2020). The closing of schools and distance learning has disrupted the communication and collaboration between families and school staff in our local communities, causing damage to parent and teacher partnerships. The need is great to re-establish connections between schools and families, especially those that are marginalized, such as special education students (Parent-Teacher Partnerships, 2019). Learning disrupted. Break in communication. Isolation. These are not phrases or terms that project a collaborative environment that is essential between schools and families for student success according to the CEC (2017). Compounded by the disruption of learning, the lack of communication, and the feelings of isolation with the needs of a student identified with a disability. School entities begin to feel more and more impersonal and daunting. Parents/guardians with a student identified with disabilities may not have the connections or feel empowered to know how to help their child be successful at home or in school. They may not feel able to advocate with and for their child. There is empirical evidence to support that collaboration and empowerment of parents/ guardians and families in the educational process and assisting in the formation of effective partnerships with the school team can promote belongingness, advocacy, and successful outcomes throughout a student’s educational journey. Using current research and personal experience in planning and implementing family/stakeholder collaborative events, “In This Together” is a project focused on understa

The proposed article aims to focus on part of the results of the research “‘Nothing about us, without us’: empowerment and recovery in a study of a mutual help and support group in mental health at Rio de Janeiro-RJ”, focusing on the experiences of users of a group of mutual help and support in mental health, prioritizing some of their narratives, associated with their recovery processes. Considering the reality of mental health practices, their limits and challenges, the aim is to contribute to advances in the field, prioritizing the Brazilian experiences of protagonism of service users, such as the mutual help and support groups. The participating research method was used with the seven male and the five female users of the basic group of facilitators of the program. To analyze the recovery processes within the device in focus, it is necessary to contextualize them among the Brazilian psychiatric reform’s reality. As a result, the more general matters on the functioning of the group, the themes and issues of everyday life, issues related to work, the relationship with mental health services and with evidence and effectiveness indicators were addressed. The discussion concerning the effects and challenges of the work developed within the group to their protagonism processes is important for an advance in mental health policies and practices, considering specially the recovery processes’ relevance to the Brazilian context, giving visibility to the service users’ practices of protagonism., Para o artigo, é realizado um recorte dos resultados da pesquisa que originou a dissertação “’Nada sobre nós, sem nós’: Empoderamento e recovery em um estudo de um grupo de ajuda e suporte mútuos em saúde mental no município do Rio de Janeiro-RJ”, dando enfoque às experiências de usuários e usuárias de um grupo de ajuda e suporte mútuos em saúde mental, priorizando algumas de suas narrativas, associadas a seus processos de recovery. Considerando a realidade das práticas de saúde mental, seus limites e desafios, visa-se contribuir para os avanços no campo, priorizando as experiências brasileiras de protagonismo de usuários e usuárias de serviços, tal como os grupos de ajuda e suporte mútuos. Foi utilizado o método de pesquisa participante com os sete usuários e as cinco usuárias do grupo básico de facilitadores do programa. Para analisar os processos de recovery no dispositivo grupal em foco, é necessário contextualizá-los a partir da nossa realidade de reforma psiquiátrica. Como resultados, foram abordadas as questões mais gerais sobre o funcionamento do grupo, os temas e as questões da vida cotidiana, as questões relacionadas ao trabalho, a relação com os serviços de saúde mental e com evidências e indicadores de efetividade. A discussão dos desafios e efeitos do trabalho com o grupo para seus processos de protagonismo é importante para que possamos avançar nas políticas e práticas de saúde mental, considerando especificamente a relevância do processo de recovery no contexto brasileiro, dando visibilidade às práticas de protagonismo de usuários e usuárias de serviços., El artículo propuesto pretende centrarse en parte de los resultados de la investigación “‘Nada sobre nosotros, sin nosotros’: empoderamiento y recuperación en un estudio de un grupo de ayuda y apoyo mutuo en salud mental en Rio de Janeiro-RJ”, centrándose en las vivencias de los usuarios de un grupo de ayuda y apoyo mutuos en salud mental, priorizando algunas de sus narrativas, asociadas a sus procesos de recuperación. Considerando la realidad de las prácticas de salud mental, sus límites y desafíos, el objetivo es contribuir a los avances en el campo, priorizando las experiencias brasileñas de protagonismo de los usuarios del servicio, como los grupos de ayuda y apoyo mutuos. El método de investigación participante se utilizó con los siete hombres y las cinco mujeres usuarias del grupo básico de facilitadores del programa. Para analizar los procesos de recuperación dentro del dispositivo en foco, es necesario contextualizarlos entre la realidad de la reforma psiquiátrica brasileña. Como resultado, se abordaron los asuntos más generales sobre el funcionamiento del grupo, los temas y cuestiones de la vida cotidiana, cuestiones relacionadas con el trabajo, la relación con los servicios de salud mental y con la evidencia y los indicadores de efectividad. La discusión sobre los efectos y desafíos del trabajo desarrollado en el grupo para sus procesos de protagonismo es importante para un avance en las políticas y prácticas de salud mental, considerando especialmente la relevancia de los procesos de recuperación para el contexto brasileño, dando visibilidad a las prácticas de los usuarios del servicio.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) strongly supports parental participation in the special education that the child receives (National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2020). Parent support groups for children with disabilities are voluntary groups that focus on providing social support and information to families. The purpose of this project was to start a parent support group in the local school district. It is the goal of the group is to provide parents the resources and supports needed as they navigate their child’s disability. Research shows that parents feel a sense of belonging and increased skills through both online and in person support groups. According to research, parents feel that online support groups are great for when the child is first diagnosed and in person are important for relationships and the sense of belonging. The need for a parent support group was accessed locally and the plan was put together for the support group.

The purpose of this literature review is to discuss the benefit of support groups and dance classes for individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Questions for consideration in this literature review include looking at the possible added benefit of combining support and movement into one group. This writer will present the literature on the benefits of dance classes for individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease and the literature on the benefits of support groups. This writer will then investigate if the potential benefits in a combined group are similar or the same as in separate support groups or dance classes. This writer will discuss data collected from a group I created at a skilled nursing facility for residents with Parkinson’s Disease that was a combined movement and support group. The bias of this writer is that combing movement and support will provide an added measure of group cohesion and an increased feeling of support from the group with a decreased feeling of isolation.

In the year of 2017, 18.7 million Americans aged 18 years or older were reported to have a substance use disorder and the pervasiveness of substance related deaths escalated (McCance- Katz, 2017). Researchers have examined how grief experienced by substance users and their loved ones is often disenfranchised by social stigmatization, loss of support, and feelings of regret, blame, humiliation, and shame. According to Valentine, Bauld, and Walter, (2016) “bereavement following a drug or alcohol related death has been largely neglected in research and service provision, despite its global prevalence and potentially devastating consequences for those concerned,” (p. 283). Studies demonstrate a need for further research on death and loss within contemporary societies, while highlighting the demand for psychological support and resources for the bereaved impacted by substance abuse. The purpose of this literature review aimed to contribute a better understanding of this population and connect existing research to piece together the best practices to better serve them. This critical literature review consists of three sections examining the individualized grief experiences of this population within western cultures, the consequences of addiction, and drug use stigmatization. Lastly, the literature on grief support groups, substance abuse resources, and expressive art therapy practices will be summarized. Results uncovered certain themes and areas of complex grief within this population to consider for clinical applications in expressive art therapy support groups. For example, expressing secret and negative feelings about addictions in a safe, non-threatening way within a therapeutic group setting can bring victims out of the isolating effects of stigmatized loss (Mayton and Wester, 2018). Furthermore, this thesis discovered gaps in the literature for interventions designed to provide assistance for healing after drug-related losses.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka vad ungdomar tyckte var viktigt i det första mötet med terapeuten, och vad i detta möte som fick dem att bestämma sig för att återkomma och påbörja en stödgrupp. Kvalitativa intervjuer genomfördes med sju unga vuxna i tjugoårsåldern som alla hade fullföljt en termin på en stödgruppsverksamhet för anhöriga till missbrukare i Stockholm. Utskrifterna av de inspelade intervjuerna tematiserades i tre steg genom tematisk analys. Resultaten från de teman som hittades analyserades utifrån teorier om arbetsallians. De främsta fynden i studien pekar mot att terapeuterna fick allians med ungdomarna redan på första mötet. Terapeutens värme och mänsklighet var en nyckelfaktor som spelade stor roll för att skapa allians med de unga. De uppskattade även äkthet, självkännedom och flexibilitet hos terapeuterna. I materialet framkommer även att platsen i sig spelade roll. Faktorer som omgivning och inredning spelade roll för ungdomarna. Slutsatserna indikerar att allians är av största vikt och att det kan vara än viktigare med unga vars frågor är flyktiga och i familjer som kämpar för att hantera vad som ofta är extremt påfrestande situationer, vilket ofta är fallet i beroendefamiljerna., The purpose of this study was to explore what adolescents found important during the introductory meeting with the therapist, as well as which aspects of the initial meeting encouraged them to participate in a support group for codependents. Qualitative interviews were compiled of seven individuals in their early twenties whom had all completed a term at a treatment center for codependents in Stockholm. The transcpripts were thematized in three steps using thematic analysis. The resulting themes were explored from the viewpoint of the Working Alliance Theory. The main findings in this study were that the therapists made a strong alliance at an early stage with the adolescents. The warmth and the humanity of the therapists was a key factor that made an important difference among the adolescents. The therapists expression of authenticity, self- disclosure and flexibility played part in their experience as well. The environment and furnishings held inviting properties and helped create a relaxed atmosphere. Conclusions point to the significance of alliance, especially within youth, for whom issues are volatile, and whose families are struggling to manage what often are extremely disruptive situations. These often include problems with addiction of some sort.

Expressive Arts Therapies (EXAT) may be seen as a new practice but can be traced back to the very beginnings of human existence and have been found on all continents and within most cultures around the world. Since earliest recordings of man, art-making has been used to make amends, rehabilitate, and transform a person in holistic ways affecting the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person leading to health and overall wellbeing. EXAT can combine the visual arts, movement, drama, music, writing, and other creative processes to foster deep personal growth and community development. EXAT can also be a guided spiritual journey and process-oriented intervention with the role of the therapist as the guide into a safe space for the client to experience integration of the arts. These approaches are convergent with social work practice, which requires creative problem solving, whereby creativity is used effectively to shape, mold, influence and uncover unrealized potential in clients. Expressive Arts Therapy also aligns with social work practice in its theoretical underpinnings, stemming from humanistic, clientcentered perspectives. The advanced practicum described herein involved an 8-week Expressive Arts course followed by facilitation of two bereavement support groups in hospice using Expressive Arts Therapy. Some of the Expressive Arts themes explored during the 8-week course and then implemented within bereavement support groups in hospice included: Introduction to Expressive Arts; Exploring Relationships; Stories from the Field; Expressive Arts Modalities; Mindful Music and Movement in Expressive Arts; Planning Expressive Arts Experiences; Professional Issues within Expressive Arts; Sand Tray; and Writing within Expressive Arts. EXAT can be a very effective therapeutic approach in support of those grieving the death of a loved one. With the knowledge, skills, and experience I have gained throughout this advanced practicum, I will be able to confi

The burden of living with an undiagnosed condition is high and includes physical and emotional suffering, frustrations, and uncertainty. For patients and families experiencing these stressors, higher levels of empowerment may be associated with better outcomes. Thus, it is important to understand the experiences of patients with undiagnosed conditions and their families affected by undiagnosed conditions in order to identify strategies for fostering empowerment. In this study, we used the Genetic Counseling Outcome Scale (GCOS-24) to assess levels of empowerment and support group participation in 35 adult participants and 67 parents of child participants in the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) prior to their UDN in-person evaluation. Our results revealed significantly lower empowerment scores on the GCOS-24 in adult participants compared to parents of child participants [t(100) = - 3.01, p = 0.003, average difference = - 11.12, 95% CI (- 3.78, - 18.46)] and no significant association between support group participation and empowerment scores. The majority of participants (84.3%, 86/102) are not currently participating in any support groups, and participation rates were not significantly different for adult participants and parents of child participants (11.4 vs. 19.7%, respectively, FE p = 0.40). Open-ended responses provided additional insight into support group participation, the challenges of living with undiagnosed conditions, and positive coping strategies. Future research will evaluate the extent to which empowerment scores change as participation in the UDN unfolds.

For decades scholars and journalists in Latin America have written about a “crisis of the family,” often linking it not only to changing economic realities but to a corresponding “crisis of masculinity”: an image of male profligacy, domestic and public violence, drug and alcohol addiction and abuse, and male unemployment. This dissertation argues that a number of religious and non-religious movements and institutions have converged upon a particular effort to solve this problem (the all-male peer group, modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous), and that this new form of social and religious organization is playing a unique role in reshaping religious life in Latin America. To pursue this argument, the dissertation makes use of over thirty extensive, life history interviews with participants in these programs and with other inhabitants of a rapidly urbanizing center in Costa Rica's rural Northern Zone, where the author conducted twenty-two months of participant-observation and comparative research over nearly a decade with three distinct men's groups as well as three churches (Catholic, evangelical, and Adventist). From this research and from the secondary literature, this dissertation argues that the phenomenon described by Elizabeth Brusco as Latin America's Protestant “reformation of machismo” is considerably broader than evangelicalism alone and is having much broader effects on gender and religion than has been previously appreciated. Much as Robert Wuthnow (1988, 1994a-b, 1998) first pointed out that support group culture has initiated a “restructuring of American religion,” a turning away from church hierarchies and towards more egalitarian support groups for a model for spirituality and spiritual community, a similar process appears to be taking place in many parts of Latin America, where Alcoholics Anonymous had by the 1990s more than tripled its North American membership rates. Using a comparative and longitudinal lens, the dissertation argues that these groups are

BackgroundCancer survivors transitioning from active treatment to posttreatment may lack critical support and information about their posttreatment care. Support groups have the potential to address this gap.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe how breast cancer survivors 65 years and older perceived professionally led, in-person support groups.MethodsIndividual interviews with 54 women were analyzed using grounded theory informed by constructivism.ResultsStrong negative assumptions about cancer support groups were described. Tension existed between two opposing categories: participants' preconceptions of support groups and characterizations of their members and the women's perceptions of their own informational and emotional needs. Participants also described what sources of support they used in lieu of professionally led support groups.ConclusionsDespite awareness and availability, most participants did not use support groups as a resource during their primary or post-cancer treatment.Implications for practiceStructural changes can benefit existing models of support groups including how and when support needs and services are discussed with survivors and a shift toward the inclusion of practical information.

A survey of health information seeking behaviour among young adults, 18-29 years old, reports that as well as searching for information for their own use, searching for information to help family and friends is also practised?. Overall, the top 5 categories of information searched are 'Personal Health', 'Symptoms', 'Healthy Diet', 'Mental Health' and 'Treatment'. For the Top 5 Information searches for Self, 'Disease Prevention' is in 5th place and displaces 'Mental Health'. Respondents mostly report a high regard for the information they retrieve in their searches. The use of support groups for themselves is reported, as well an altruistic motivation to support others. While the motivation for many searches is to avoid attending a health professional, approximately one-third search after their visit. Of the respondents who are Swedish residents, 42% are unaware of the availability of their Journalen, online health record in Sweden, and of those 56.7% who know of it, 18% have never accessed it.

In Los Angeles County, there are more than 60,000 individuals living with HIV. Latinos are disproportionally affected by HIV. In 2013, 46% of new diagnoses occurred among Latinos. Initiation in HIV antiretroviral therapy and retention in care are crucial in reducing the morbidity and mortality of patients living with HIV (PLWH). Studies have shown that adherence to ART and a sense of belonging can be achieved through active participation in support groups. This aim of this project was to assess the need of a support group for PLWH and receiving care at St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, a clinic in South Central Los Angeles. The project used qualitative descriptive analysis of semi-structured interviews to assess this need. Ten interviews were conducted among Latino patients living with HIV. The participants included 8 men and 2 women. All participants were Spanish speaking, living in LA County. Most participants believed they have people around them that could help them in times of need. Most participants said they would participate in a support group for PLWH. The number one motivation to join a support group was the opportunity to make new friends. Most participants reported good adherence to ART. The barrier most mentioned for joining a support group was time constraints due to work. Fear of people finding out, was another barrier mentioned by a few participants.

Background: The content that cancer patients and their relatives (ie, posters) share in online cancer communities has been researched in various ways. In the past decade, researchers have used automated analysis methods in addition to manual coding methods. Patients, providers, researchers, and health care professionals can learn from experienced patients, provided that their experience is findable.Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review all relevant literature that analyzes user-generated content shared within online cancer communities. We reviewed the quality of available research and the kind of content that posters share with each other on the internet.Methods: A computerized literature search was performed via PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO (5 and 4 stars), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ScienceDirect. The last search was conducted in July 2017. Papers were selected if they included the following terms: (cancer patient) and (support group or health communities) and (online or internet). We selected 27 papers and then subjected them to a 14-item quality checklist independently scored by 2 investigators.Results: The methodological quality of the selected studies varied: 16 were of high quality and 11 were of adequate quality. Of those 27 studies, 15 were manually coded, 7 automated, and 5 used a combination of methods. The best results can be seen in the papers that combined both analytical methods. The number of analyzed posts ranged from 200 to 1,500,000; the number of analyzed posters ranged from 75 to 90,000. The studies analyzing large numbers of posts mainly related to breast cancer, whereas those analyzing small numbers were related to other types of cancers. A total of 12 studies involved some or entirely automatic analysis of the user-generated content. All the authors referred to two main content categories: informational support and emotional support. In all, 15

Introducción: Los grupos de apoyo online para personas con discapacidad se han convertido en un recurso atractivo para el intercambio de conductas prosociales. En el presente estudio se identifica la conducta prosocial de una muestra de usuarios de los grupos de apoyo online para personas con discapacidad en función de la tipología y de la etapa en la que se adquirió la discapacidad. Asimismo, se examina si existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en estos comportamientos prosociales en función del sexo, de la edad y del nivel de formación. Método: Participaron 162 personas con diferentes tipos de discapacidad (motora, intelectual, auditiva y visual). El rango de edad fue de 20 a 59 años (M = 37,40; DT = 7,04). Contestaron la Escala para la Medición de la Conducta Prosocial en Adultos (2005). Resultados: Los resultados indicaron una conducta prosocial más desarrollada en los participantes de los grupos de apoyo online con discapacidad motora así como entre los usuarios con discapacidad adquirida en el nacimiento. Asimismo, las mujeres puntuaron significativamente más que los varones en conducta prosocial. Discusión: Los resultados de este trabajo pueden resultar útiles, pues resaltan que la participación en los grupos de apoyo online podría contribuir en el diseño de programas que potencien la conducta prosocial de las personas con discapacidad., Introduction: The online support groups for people with disability have become an attractive resource for the exchange of prosocial behavior. The present study identifies the prosocial behavior of a sample of users of the online support groups for people with disabilities according to the type and stage in which the disability was acquired. In addition, to identify significant differences in prosocial behavior according to the gender, age and grade of education. Method: A total of 162 people with different disabilities (physical, intellectual, visual and auditory) participated. Aged 20 y 59 (M = 37.40; SD = 7.04). They completed the Prosocialness Scale for Adults (2005). Results: The results indicated more developed prosocial behavior in participants of online support groups with motor disability, as well as among users with disabilities acquired at birth. In turn, women scored significantly higher than males on all dimensions of prosocial behavior. Discussion: The results of this study can be useful as they highlight that online support groups could help to design prosocial behavior programs for people with disability.

Inspired by my own mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, in this study, narratives from Hispanic/Latina breast cancer survivors were collected and analyzed using narrative theory, and social cognitive theory. Even though Hispanic/Latina women are less physiologically prone to develop breast cancer, a significant percentage are still being diagnosed at later stages, with larger tumors, and are dying because of this late diagnosis. As a result, I needed to learn more about women’s journeys through their diagnosis, especially what kind of social support they experienced through those difficult times. For this study, I interviewed fifteen Hispanic/Latina women from different parts of the country – most of them residing in the Southwest part of the United States. I explored the information collected to pinpoint common themes amongst the narratives given in the interviews. Through this examination, I uncovered five prominent themes: support systems; seeking and participating in support groups; unwillingness to seek and participate; culture; and, visions for support groups tailored specifically for Hispanic/Latinas. With Hispanic/Latino narratives being scarce in academic research, this study contributes to the growing research focus for this population, especially when it comes to understanding women who experienced a breast cancer diagnosis. Its implications serve to create more culturally appropriate support groups specifically designed for Hispanic/Latina women; training for healthcare providers; and, the push for expanding knowledge of preventative measures through a support group setting that can be distributed through storytelling among the women.

Bullying is a fairly widespread problem in society. It consists of two main characteristics: a difference in strength between the victim and aggressor; the victim is subjected to a series of negative actions that endure over time. The growing use of ICT by minors has led to an increase in the magnitude and severity of school bullying. One form of intervention with the victims are support groups, which have been demonstrated to be very useful tools to work with groups that have experienced this problem. Thus, the aim of this study was to review the techniques used to intervene with victims of bullying, and to study the possible implementation of support group techniques using social networks as intervention tools. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 6 adults (children protection figures) to analyze the factors that encourage bullying, and to study the implementation of online support groups as an intervention strategy with victims. The data show that the adults accepted the groups as an effective strategy, because of their effects and the advantages that social networks can offer. However, future research is needed to corroborate this result., El acoso escolar es un problema bastante generalizado en la sociedad. Consta de dos características principales que son: diferencia de fuerza entre víctima y agresor y que la víctima se está viendo sometida a una serie de acciones negativas de forma duradera en el tiempo. Actualmente el acoso escolar está evolucionando con el uso de las TIC por parte de los menores, haciendo que las consecuencias aumenten en gravedad. Los grupos de apoyo son una forma de intervención con las víctimas, demostrada como herramienta muy útil para trabajar con colectivos que padecen el mismo problema. Así el objetivo de la investigación es revisar las técnicas empleadas para intervenir con víctimas de acoso escolar y estudiar la posible implantación de técnicas de grupos de apoyo utilizando redes sociales como herramientas de intervención. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 6 adultos, figuras de protección de los menores, para: analizar los factores que fomentan el acoso y estudiar la implantación de los grupos de apoyo online como estrategia de intervención con las víctimas. Los datos muestran aceptación de los adultos respecto a los grupos como una estrategia eficaz, tanto por sus efectos como por las ventajas que pueden ofrecer las redes sociales, pero se necesitaría de futuras investigaciones para corroborarlo.

Despite the evidence of unmet support needs among young people who have lost a parent to cancer, only a few support group initiatives have been reported. This observational prospective study explored the psychosocial well-being of young people who participated in support groups at a Swedish specialist palliative care setting. On three occasions, 29 participants, aged 16-28 years, answered questionnaires covering characteristics of the participants, circumstances of the losses, psychosocial well-being of the young people, and their own assessment of the support groups. The support groups attracted mostly young women who were often unprepared for the loss. The living arrangements differed between younger and older participants; however, the loss-related variables did not differ. Significant positive changes were found regarding a sense of meaning in their future life and life satisfaction. The helpfulness of the group was assessed as high/very high and the group brought a valuable fellowship with others in a similar situation. Universality and beneficial interactions were reported and strengthened psychosocial well-being developed over time. This change, according to the young people themselves, may be attributed to the group support. The findings are useful for planning interventions to support young people in bereavement in order to enhance their psychosocial well-being.

Research substantiates children of parents with mental disorders including substance abuse face increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems. Although evidence suggests that support programs for children enhance resiliency, recruiting children to these groups remains problematic. This study identifies successful recruitment strategies for prevention programs for children of parental mental illness. The participants were recruited from an international network of researchers. E-mail invitations requested that researchers forward a web-based questionnaire to five colleagues with recruitment experience. Forty-five individuals from nine countries practicing in mental health responded. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis techniques were used. Results: Schools, adult, and youth mental health services were recruitment sources. Nine themes were identified: Relationships, diversified information output, logistics, program consistency, family involvement, recruitment through adults, stigma, recruiting locations, social media. Recruitment barriers were: stigma, inadequate knowledge about parental mental illness and limited time. Transportation to programming was an essential component of successful recruitment.

Esta comunicación presenta parte de un estudio en desarrollo11 y se centra en la creación y formación de grupos de apoyo entre alumnos en dos centros educativos, (uno de Educación Infantil y Primaria y otro de Secundaria). A través de una metodología de investigación descriptiva y participativa se estudia cómo distintos procesos participativos desarrollados en los centros escolares, generan aprendizajes y prácticas inclusivas. Entendemos que los cambios en materia de Educación Inclusiva exigen repensar los sistemas educativos actuales así como las prácticas de los modelos de apoyo entre profesores, alumnos y familias. Diversas son las aportaciones reconocidas por contribuir en la mejora educativa como la voz del alumnado y la perspectiva centrada en el apoyo educativo, dando importancia a las redes de colaboración y apoyo mutuo entre iguales, sea entre alumnado, profesorado o familias. Las experiencias y conocimientos que aportan las prácticas diarias son los ejes de los grupos de apoyo mutuo (GAM) que han emergido como herramienta de colaboración para la formación, trabajo y apoyo en la comunidad educativa., This paper presents part of a study on development and focuses on the creation and formation of support groups among students in two schools (one of Education and Primary and Secondary another). Through a descriptive methodology and participatory research how different participatory processes developed in schools studied, generate learning and inclusive practices. We understand that changes in the field of inclusive education require rethinking the current educational systems and practices support models among teachers, students and families. Several contributions are recognized for contributing to educational improvement as the student voice and perspective focused on educational support, giving importance to the networks of collaboration and mutual support among peers, either among students, teachers and families. The experiences and insights that everyday practices are the pillars of support groups (GAM) that have emerged as a collaboration tool for training, work and support in the educational community..

I denna kvalitativa studie har enkäter insamlats från barn och unga som deltagit i stödgruppsverksamhet för barn och unga med en avliden nära anhörig i Dalarnas län. Syftet med studien har varit att beskriva deltagarnas erfarenheter av stödgrupperna. Genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys har tre kategorier identifierats; bearbetning, gemenskap och strukturens betydelse. Studien visar främst på betydelsen av att få träffa andra barn och unga i liknande situation samt indikerar till att deltagarnas KASAM (känsla av sammanhang) förhöjts genom deltagandet i stödgruppen., In this qualitative study, questionnaires were collected from children and adolescents who had participated in a support group in Dalarnas län for children and adolescents with a deceased close relative. The purpose of this study was to enhance knowledge of children and adolescents’ experiences of participating in support groups through their descriptions in qualitative questionnaires. Qualitative content analysis was conducted and three categories were identified; kinship, processing and the significance of structure. The result highlights the importance of having the opportunity to meet other children and adolescents in similar situations, and indicates that the participants Sense of coherence enhanced through the participation in the support group.

This descriptive article aims to report the experience of the teaching/research/outreach project of the Multidisciplinary Care Group– AMA in the Portuguese acronym, which provides care to families facing death/dying in a hospital context. The project has been active since October 2013, and it involves the Nursing and Psychology courses of the Federal University of Bahia in activities in a public hospital setting. The project aims to unveil the transpersonal-systemic support to the families of life risk patients using family records, monitoring visits, group activities and interactional dynamics. The results include: teaching - training students to carry out transpersonal-systemic care; research - developed with families and specific professionals; and outreach project - support and care to the family of the hospitalized person facing risk of death, as well as interaction and multidisciplinary hospital mobilization. The study concludes that the actions taken are relevant to contribute to a more comprehensive care towards those facing death/dying, and for the improvement of professional skills necessary to face this challenge., Este estudo descritivo objetivo relatar a experiência de ensino-pesquisa-extensão do Agrupamento Multidisciplinar de Acolhimento – AMA no cuidado à família que enfrenta a morte-morrer hospitalar. O projeto,iniciado em outubro de 2013, persiste em andamento, envolvendo os cursos de enfermagem e psicologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia no cenário de um hospital público, onde busca desvelar o cuidado transpessoal-sistêmico no processo de acolhimento a famílias com pessoas em risco de morte, utilizando: prontuário familiar, acompanhamento de visitas, grupos e dinâmicas interacionais. Os resultados envolvem: ensino – capacitação de estudantes para ações de Cuidado Transpessoal-Sistêmico; pesquisa – desenvolvidas junto às famílias e profissionais-alvos; extensão – acolhimento e cuidado à família da pessoa hospitalizada em risco de morte e interação e mobilização multiprofissional hospitalar. Concluímos que as ações implementadas são relevantes para contribuírem com um cuidado mais integral frente à morte-morrer, e ainda para o aperfeiçoamento de habilidades profissionais no direcionamento deste desafio.

This study, using interviews and in situ group observations, explored the communication processes that facilitate the emergence of hope at a community based support program (CBSP). No literature within the communication field focuses on hope and there are no studies that explore the co-construction of hope through communication. Within the extensive studies of hope in other disciplines, the communication lens is absent. Within the literature of wellness, positive and supportive communication, narrative, and mutual aid groups, there are no studies that focus on emergent hope or the communication processes facilitating hope. Hope is widely accepted as critical to life and wellness. However, there is a gap in the existing literature across disciplines with no studies exploring the communication processes and social interactions that facilitate hope. In addition, no studies explored the communication processes in situ involved in the emergence of hope. Taking an appreciative approach, the data collection (24 interviews and 13 group recordings) and analysis focused on what was going right rather than critiquing or contrasting the program. The CBSP is a sacred story space where narratives and narrative fragments are shared, redeemed, and hope is germinated. The data revealed that communication processes, especially narrative, at the CBSP are central to the emergence of hope for participants. The findings of this study ground hope firmly as a communication narrative concept. Narrative construct is refined to incorporate a duality of narrative. The duality of narrative holds to the social constructionist concept of the co-construction of self narratives while simultaneously acknowledging the agency of the individual to choose what and in what ways the contributions of co-constructors are woven into the narrative of self and reality. The construct of hope is also refined by adding the concept of reclaiming the agency within the construct of the duality of narrative. Three ma

© 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Background: Prostate cancer support groups (PCSGs) are community-based organizations that offer information and psychosocial support to men who experience prostate cancer and their families. Nurses are well positioned to refer men to a range of psychosocial resources to help them adjust to prostate cancer; however, little is known about nurses' perspectives on PCSGs. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe nurses' views about PCSGs as a means to making recommendations for advancing the effectiveness of PCSGs. Methods: A convenience sample of 101 Canadian nurses completed a 43-item Likert-scale questionnaire with the additional option of providing comments in response to an open-ended question. Univariate descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Results: Participants held positive views about the roles and potential impact of PCSGs. Participants strongly endorsed the benefits of support groups in disseminating information and providing support to help decrease patient anxiety. Online support groups were endorsed as a practical alternative for men who are reluctant to participate in face-to-face groups. Conclusions: Findings suggest that nurses support the value of Canadian face-to-face and online PCSGs. This is important, given that nurses can help connect individual patients to community-based sources providing psychosocial support. Implications for Practice: Many men benefit from participating in.

Indications of dementia disease include deterioration of memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to perform everyday activities. Any of these symptoms can lead to stress and difficulties organizing everyday life. As a way to view factors that support human health and well-being despite stressful situations, Antonovsky introduced a salutogenic model. This model proposes that sense of coherence primarily determines physical and mental health i.e. psychological well-being. Having a sense of coherence in everyday life can reduce the impact of stress on the individual in everyday life. The study’s aim of this study was to explore how participants in existing support groups scored on the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC), and what they perceived as contributory factors to a meaningful, manageable, and comprehensible everyday life in the presence of dementia using a mixed method. Persons with dementia had the highest scores on the SOC scale and their partners the lowest. Persons with dementia expressed that being with others who understood them made their everyday life comprehensible and manageable. Their partners expressed that learning about dementia was helpful in managing and comprehending everyday situations. The adult children expressed that it was meaningful to care for their parents and they scored slightly higher than the partners on the SOC scale. Long-term ongoing support supplemented with information and social support can contribute to the sense of coherence in persons with dementia and their next of kin.

Advances in diagnostic tools and disease slowing treatments have led to an increased focus on diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (AD) during the early stages of the disease. Early diagnosis of AD improves quality of life for patients and caregivers by allowing for participation in disease slowing interventions. However, early diagnosis of AD may have unintentional psychological and social consequences for patients and caregivers. To combat these potential consequences, it is important that psychosocial interventions, such as support groups, are available at the time of diagnosis. A review of literature demonstrated that early stage AD patients and their informal caregivers benefited from support groups attended by both patients and caregivers, referred to as early stage AD patient-caregiver dyad (PCD) support groups. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the need for early stage AD PCD support groups in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the need for early stage AD PCD support groups in rural WA.A needs assessment survey was developed and distributed for a period of one month to four clinics and one senior center in five rural WA towns. Twelve informal caregivers and five community members who did not have AD or care for someone with early stage AD were included in data analysis. Results demonstrated that participants lacked information about early stage AD PCD support groups and barriers to accessing these groups. Even with a lack of information about early stage AD PCD support groups, a majority of participants indicated that these groups would address their many unmet needs, and 52.9% of participants were likely to participate in early stage AD PCD support groups. Further studies should be performed to capture the need for early stage AD PCD support groups in rural WA.

Kriminalprävention an Orten gehört zu den klassischen Feldern der Kriminalprävention. Straftaten haben stets mindestens einen Tatort. Aber auch unter dem Gesichtspunkt von Furchtorten und Verwahrlosungserscheinungen im öffentlichen Raum („Incivilities“) sind Orte kriminalpräventiv relevant. Während die anglo-amerikanische Kriminologie die Kriminalprävention an Orten fokussiert, enthält die deutschsprachiche Literatur weitaus weniger Material hierzu. Daher hat der Bandherausgeber im Jahr 2013 ein Seminar „Kriminalprävention an Orten“ durchgeführt und in diesem Zusammenhang einschlägige Seminar- und Studienarbeiten ausgegeben. Sie sind in dem Werk dokumentiert Es will dem bestehenden Informationsmangel begegnen und zu weiteren Untersuchungen bzw. Projekten mit Kriminalprävention an Orten anregen., Crime prevention at places is one of the classical fields of crime prevention. Offenses always have at least one scene of the crime. But also from the point of fear places and neglected areas in the public space ("Incivilities") places are relevant for crime prevention. While the Anglo-American criminology focuses on crime prevention at places, the German literature contains much less material. Therefore, the volume editors conducted a seminar "Crime prevention at places" at Tübingen university in 2013 and gave out seminar and study work in this context. They are documented in this book. It wants to fill the existing lack of information and stimulate further investigations or projects in crime prevention at places.

During this study we interviewed five young women who have faced growing up in homes with problems such as substance abusing parents, parents with psychological illnesses and violence. The purpose of this paper is to study these five young women’s experiences of participating in a support group for children and teenagers. Due to our purpose we asked ourselves three questions 1. How did these young women experience the method of the support program? 2. How did they experience their relationship to the professionals and other children and teenagers within the support group? 3. How has the experiences of being in the support group effected them? To answer these questions we performed qualitative interviews with five young women in the ages between 19-21 years old who has participated in these support groups. Our results show that these young women have had big use of concrete facts about their parents’ illnesses and also appreciated fun and games. The young women also experience the support group as a second home and found a lot of comfort within the group. Results also show that they gained a big amount of trust to the professionals who they found a lot of comfort in. The young women also felt a big amount of fellowship towards the rest of the group mates which minimized their feelings of loneliness and shame. Results also showed that the young women had different ideas of what a normal household looked like before they joined the support groups. Some of them thought that the problems at home were normal while others thought they were all alone with their type of problems. The young women feel that their participation in the support groups has led them to an increased sense of security, bigger confident and has also taught them to set boundaries. Their participation in the support groups has also led them to an increased sense of KASAM and Empowerment.

The prevalence of dementia diseases is increasing worldwide with advancing age and growing populations. In Sweden alone, which currently has a population of approximately 9 million, there are about 25, 000 persons diagnosed each year with a dementia disease. Consequently, after such a diagnosis there is a tremendous need for support not only in Sweden but other countries as well. The recipients of that support include next of kin who seek all sorts of information including conversations about upcoming lifestyle changes and ways to handle personality changes in their loved one who is suffering from dementia. The aim of this study was to explore four couples´ experiences in structured support groups. A single case study with multiple data collection methods was used. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed by content analysis, which revealed three main categories representing the findings in four cases: Kinship through shared experiences, Knowledge about the disease, and Sense of comfort and support. One category, Longing for kinship was created exclusively for one of the couples. Viewing the emerging categories from a healthy aging perspective, both comfort and support and kinship through shared experiences can be considered as components of larger themes of support and social interaction. Findings suggest that structured support groups are a good way to encourage discussions, allow persons with dementia to express themselves, and support healthy aging in partners. Facilitators, regardless of whether they are social workers or registered nurses, should be trained in the group process to enable the individuals in the group to communicate and find meaning in their experiences., Publ online 11 June 2013

BACKGROUND: Recent efforts to curtail the HIV epidemic in Africa have emphasised preventing sexual transmission to partners through antiretroviral therapy. A component of current strategies is disclosure to partners, thus understanding its motivations will help maximise results. This study examines the rates, dynamics and consequences of partner disclosure in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, with special attention to the role of support groups and stigma in disclosure. METHODS: The study employs mixed methods, including a cross-sectional client survey of counselling and testing services, focus groups, and in-depth interviews with HIV-positive individuals in stable partnerships in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, recruited at healthcare facilities offering HIV testing. RESULTS: Rates of disclosure to partners varied between countries (32.7% - 92.7%). The lowest rate was reported in Malawi. Reasons for disclosure included preventing the transmission of HIV, the need for care, and upholding the integrity of the relationship. Fear of stigma was an important reason for non-disclosure. Women reported experiencing more negative reactions when disclosing to partners. Disclosure was positively associated with living in urban areas, higher education levels, and being male, while being negatively associated with membership to support groups. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of reasons for disclosure and recognition of the role of support groups in the process can help improve current prevention efforts, that increasingly focus on treatment as prevention as a way to halt new infections. Support groups can help spread secondary prevention messages, by explaining to their members that antiretroviral treatment has benefits for HIV positive individuals and their partners. Home-based testing can further facilitate partner disclosure, as couples can test together and be counselled jointly., Funding: National Institutie of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Background and Purpose: Research suggests that stuttering can impact an individual’s quality of life and how they perceive themselves in interactions with others. As a larger proportion of adults who stutter are men, limited research is available regarding the specific experiences of women who stutter (WWS). Existent literature regarding WWS was mainly published in the 1970s -1980s and may no longer represent current issues. This study aimed to explore the current influences on quality of life, perception of stuttering, self-management strategies, and gender issues experienced by WWS. Methods and Procedures: This grounded theory study used a convenience sample of eight WWS recruited through the Speak Easy Association in WA, a support network for people who stutter. Participants came from diverse cultural backgrounds and their ages ranged for 35-80. In-depth, semi-structured interviews (35-40 mins long) were conducted in participant’s homes, the first of these acting as a pilot. Interviews were audio/video recorded and transcribed verbatim to form raw data. Thematic analysis was performed using the NVivo 10 qualitative analysis software program to manage and code data. Intermediate coding and mapping the relationships between categories, themes and subthemes established emerging patterns. The Overall Assessment of the Speakers Experience of Stuttering (OASES) was also utilised to complement interpretation of qualitative data. Outcomes and Results: Through thematic analysis of interview transcripts, a central category of Sense of Self (SOS) was identified, surrounded by the emerging key themes of Relationships, Responses of Others, and Self-Management. Various interrelated subthemes were also observed. These categories, themes, and subthemes were fluid throughout co-occurring data collection and analysis phases and did not exist independently of one another, sharing complex relationships. OASES scores generally reflected interview content, affirming the use of this to

Grounded Theory was used to examine the experiences of 13 participants who had attended psycho-educational support groups for those bereaved by suicide. Results demonstrated core and central categories which fit well with group therapeutic factors developed by Yalom (1995) and emphasised the importance of universality, imparting information and instilling hope, catharsis and self-disclosure, and broader meaning making processes surrounding acceptance or adjustment. Participants were commonly engaged in a lengthy process of oscillating between loss oriented and restoration focused reappraisals. The functional experience of the group comprised feeling normal within the group, providing a sense of permission to feel and to express emotions and thoughts and to bestow meaning. Structural variables of information and guidance and different perspectives on the suicide and bereavement were gained from other participants, the facilitators, group content and process. Personal changes, including in relationships and in their sense of self, assisted participants to develop an altered and more positive personal narrative.

This is a qualitative study designed to investigate how professional support group leaders talk about their role as supervisor of support groups for children and adolescents with problematic home situations. We also examine how these supervisors talk about the method they use and how they talk about the individual child. We have chosen critical discourse analysis to help us explore if there are different ways to talk about these territories. Our questions are: How does the support group leader talk about his role? How does the support group leader talk about the method? How does the support group leader talk about the individual child? The theories we have chosen to use in the analysis of our material is Aaron Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence and social constructivism. We have, as mentioned, chosen to do a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews conducted with seven active support group leaders at three different support group organizations. We transcribed the interviews and coded them separately and then went through the coded material together. The analytical method we have chosen is discourse analysis focusing on Norman Fairclough´s critical discourse analysis. Along with Fairclough´s three-dimensional model, we analyzed the interviews at the following levels: text practice, discursive practice and social practice. Based on our purpose and our questions we managed to distinguish six different discourses, within each territory we found two discourses that stood in contrast to each other. In the territory "How the support group leader talks about his own role," we found the knowledge discourse and the playful discourse. In the territory "How the support group leader talks about the method" we were able to discern a discourse view of the method as complete and a view of the method as adaptable. In the territory "How the support group leader talks about the individual child" we found the discourse about the perception of the child as a subject and the perce

Detgår att läsa i en rapport från socialstyrelsen att det finns ett stort behov avatt utveckla och utvärdera metoder samt pröva om dessa kan anpassas för grupperdär brukarinflytande idag saknas. Detta är enkvalitativ studie om barn och ungdomars brukarmedverkan samt inflytande. Syftetmed studien är att undersöka de professionellas syn på barn och ungdomarsbrukarmedverkan samt brukarinflytande i stödgrupper för unga som bevittnatvåld, missbruk och/eller psykisk ohälsa. Studien görs på uppdrag från RegionHalland. Metoden som använts är kvalitativ metod vilket innebär att man harstuderat olika individers upplevelser av det fenomen som undersökts. Det empiriskamaterialet har hämtats ifrån sex kommuner i Hallands län, Sverige. Totalt harsju professionella intervjuats som jobbar med stödgruppsverksamhet. Efterintervjuerna transkriberades samtliga för att underlätta sammanställning ochanalys. Den insamlade empirin analyserades utefter teorier om empowerment ochdeliberativ demokrati. Det huvudsakliga resultatet är att begreppenbrukarmedverkan och inflytande är relativt nya begrepp inomstödgruppsverksamheter. Barnen och ungdomarna har ingen gedigen inverkan istödgrupperna utan de professionellas ord väger tyngst. Det verkar även som attdet råder skendemokrati i verksamheterna då de unga har rätt att yttra sig mende professionella verkar alltid ha det sista ordet., You can reada report from The National Board ofHealth and Welfare that there is a need to develop and evaluate methods and see whether these can beadapted for groups where userinfluence today is missing. This is a qualitative study of children andadolescents user participation and influence in support groups. The aim of thestudy is to examine the professional approach to children and adolescents userparticipation and user involvement in support groups for young people who have witnessedviolence, abuse and/or mental illness. The study is commissioned by RegionHalland. The method used is qualitative method, which means that you havestudied different individuals experiences of the phenomenon studied, and theresearchers made ​​use of semi-structured interviews. The empirical data hasbeen collected from six counties of Halland, Sweden. A total of sevenprofessionals were interviewed who work with support groups. After theinterviews they were transcribed all to facilitate the compilation andanalysis. The collected empirical data were analyzed along the theories ofempowerment and deliberative democracy. The main result is that the concepts ofuser participation and influence are relatively new concepts in support groupactivities. Children and young people have no solid impact in support groupsbecause the professional word is predominant. It also appears that there is asham democracy in the activities, the children have a right to be heard but theprofessionals seem to always have the last word.

El proceso de la maternidad, según Mercer, implica que la madre nazca psicológicamente, dando lugar a una nueva identidad en constante crecimiento y desarrollo. El modelo de esta autora puede servir a la enfermera para valorar, planificar, ejecutar y evaluar el cuidado enfermero de las madres y sus bebés en sus intervenciones. Este estudio cualitativo, de enfoque etnográfico, dirigido a grupos de madres con hijos menores de un año, utilizará la observación participante y el diario de campo para describir y relacionar los contenidos de las dinámicas grupales con el desarrollo del rol maternal. Se identifican 3 categorías y 50 códigos y se destaca que las enfermeras, como profesionales competentes en aspectos conceptuales y técnicos propios de su disciplina, utilizan los modelos de Mercer y Beck para acompañar a las madres coordinándose con otros profesionales., The process of motherhood, according to Mercer, implies the mother’s psychological birth, creating a new identity under constant growth and development. The model of this author can serve to the nurse to value, plan, implement and assess the nurse care of mothers and their babies in their interventions. This is a qualitative study, of an ethnographic approach, directed to groups of mothers with children under a year that would use the participant observation and the field diary to describe and relate the contents and the group dynamics with the development of the maternal role. Three categories and 50 codes are identified and it is enhanced that nurses, as competent professionals in conceptual and technical aspects of their discipline, use the Mercer’s and Beck’s models to accompany the mothers and coordinating with other professionals.

The care of dependent older people in our social context depends primarily on families. Within this reality, different elements that account for the complexity of the situation are articulated; issues such as social representations on ageing and dependence, self-care and the construction of gender roles, family solidarity, and public accountability for care. This is all articulated with the relational processes that each caregiver family must confront and resolve in order to address the care of dependent persons. The experience of group work with caregivers serves as a guide to show part of these processes and the family dynamics relative to care (the redefinition of bonds, the ambivalence between the duty of providing care and the aspirations, resources, and opportunities available, disorientation, uncertainty, etc). This formalisation does not reflect the complexity of the phenomenon of providing care, however, experiences of the type developed in this article inform about intervention opportunities in areas of primary care, as a resource of complementary support and recognition, in the face of the scarce institutional support that caregivers currently receive., La atención a las personas mayores dependientes en nuestro contexto social depende fundamentalmente de las familias. Sobre esta realidad se articulan diferentes elementos que dan cuenta de la complejidad de la situación; cuestiones como las representaciones sociales sobre el envejecimiento y la dependencia, los cuidados personales y la construcción de los roles de género, la solidaridad familiar y la responsabilidad pública en la atención. Todo ello se articula con los procesos relacionales que cada familia cuidadora debe afrontar y resolver para hacer frente a la atención de las personas dependientes. La experiencia de trabajo grupal con personas cuidadoras sirve como guía para mostrar parte de estos procesos y dinámicas familiares frente a los cuidados (la redefinición de los vínculos, la ambivalencia entre el deber de cuidar y las aspiraciones, los recursos, y las oportunidades disponibles, la desorientación, la incertidumbre, etc.). Esta formalización no refleja la complejidad del fenómeno del cuidado, mas algunas experiencias como las que se desarrollan en el artículo dan cuenta de las oportunidades de intervención en ámbitos de atención primaria, como recurso de apoyo complementario y de reconocimiento, frente a la ayuda institucional tan escasa que reciben los cuidadores actualmente.

Background: Health care systems in many countries are moving towards outpatient care in which family members are central in providing care for patients with life-threatening illness. Several studies show that family members report a lack of preparation, knowledge and the ability to handle the caregiver role, and a need for information and psychosocial support. Aim: The aim was to investigate the effects of a support group programme for family members of patients with life-threatening illness during ongoing palliative care. Design: A prospective quasi-experimental design, including an intervention group and a comparison group, was used. Settings/participants: A support group programme was offered to family members during ongoing palliative care at three intervention settings: two specialist palliative care units and one haematology unit. A fourth setting, a specialist palliative care unit, was used for comparisons. Results: Family members taking part in the support group programme significantly increased their perceptions of preparedness for caregiving, competence for caregiving, and rewards of caregiving. Hope, anxiety, depression symptoms and health showed no significant changes. Conclusions: The intervention, including a support group programme delivered to family members of patients with life-threatening illness during ongoing palliative care, proved to be effective in certain domains of caregiving. No negative outcomes were detected. The results indicate that this intervention could be implemented and delivered to family members during ongoing palliative care., Funding Agencies:Health Care Sciences Postgraduate School Erling-Person Family Foundation Signhild Engkvist Foundation

Support group participation during the post-operative radiotherapy period increases levels of coping resources among women with breast cancer Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a traumatic experience that can elevate levels of distress and cause depletion of coping resources in many of the disease's victims. This non-randomised case-control study among breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy indicates that participation in a support group that focuses on communication and mutual sharing between its member's has positive effects and increases levels of coping resources assessed with the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI). Results of the CRI showed a significant difference between the study group and control group in the social domain at the second occasion of measurement (P= 0.007) and in the emotional domain at the third occasion (P= 0.028). Within the study group, over time, increased levels of coping resources reached significant levels concerning the emotional domain at the second occasion (P= 0.025). Conversely, coping resources were decreased in the same domain within the control group over time, at the third occasion (P= 0.053). Additionally, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, showing no difference between the groups. This study shows that participation in a support group during post-operative radiotherapy can be socially and emotionally strengthening because of the opportunity for the patients to mutually share experiences.

Family members are central in providing care for patients with lifethreatening illness, but they often experience a lack of necessary preparation and knowledge, with a need for information and psychosocial support. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate participant’s experiences as well as effects of a support group programme for family members of patients with life-threatening illness during ongoing palliative care. Methods: A mixed method design was used. Study I was retrospective descriptive and used a phenomenological method to analyse 10 face-to-face interviews about experiences of participating in the programme. Study II was retrospective descriptive and used qualitative content analysis to analyse 29 telephone interviews about experiences of the programme design. Study III was correlational and used a confirmatory factor analysis to psychometrically evaluate the preparedness for caregiving scale(PCS), caregiver competence scale(CCS) and rewards of caregiving scale(RCS) in 124 family members. Study IV was prospective quasi-experimental and used interferential statistics to investigate effects of the programme, assessing preparedness, competence, rewards, anxiety, depression, hope and health in 125 family members. Results: The main experiences of participation in the programme were; a sense of safety and belonging, confirmation, insight into the gravity of the illness, and a moment of rest. The programme was experienced as covering topics of interest, structured to make participants feel invited by the caring team and using an open approach that fostered a warm atmosphere. The Swedish versions of PCS, CCS and RCS were shown to be valid and reliable. Family members who participated in the programme significantly increased in preparedness, competence and rewards in relation to caregiving. No significant changes were shown for anxiety, depression, hope and health. Clinical implications: The results should provide encouragement in the challenging work to

Background: Support groups are an informal resource that attempts to provide healing components to a variety of problems and challenges. An informal support outside of family, friends, or professionals often provides greater understanding, more similarity (from individuals experiencing similar life events), an opportunity for empathy and altruism, and a sense of identity for participants. Learning new ways to handle challenges, cope with changes, and maintain new behaviors are all important aspects of the support group experience. Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine what HIV positive people perceive as barriers to participate in HIV support groups. Methods: This was a quantitative study design using structured questionnaires on 248 participants who gave written consents to participate in the study. Results: Majority were female 63% participants, single (52.63%), unemployed (60%), between ages 31-40 and 52.02% attained secondary education. Participants who were currently on HIV treatment (prophylaxis and ARV) has attended HIV support groups before while participants who were not on any treatment have never attended HIV support groups. Participants who never attended HIV support group also never attended other support groups. The main reasons that participants gave for not attending in HIV support groups was that they are concerned about their privacy and HIV status being known by others. Barriers preventing attendance of HIV support group were support groups are hard to find, work schedules and lack of transport money.

Grief is a reaction to loss and will be experienced to some degree by everyone in his or her life. For most, this is a brief process lasting a few weeks or months, after which they regain their focus and return to their normal lives. For a percentage of the population, however, it is more difficult to return to normal life functions. The grieving process can further diminish low social support and social support networks. However, generally providing the opportunity to talk about their feelings is sufficient to help most work through their grief without therapy (Burke, Eakes, and Hainsworth, 1999; Neimeyer, 2008). The purpose of this research was to determine if individuals preferring online to face-to-face grief support groups come from different populations. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire to measure aspects of social support unavailability, avoidant personality traits, Asperger’s syndrome traits, introversion traits, loneliness, and computer self-efficacy. A religiosity scale also was included as a control measure. Participants were given four hypothetical scenarios concerning loss and asked if they would prefer online to face-to-face support if they were in that situation. It was expected that individuals with higher scores on the six scales other than religiosity would be more likely to prefer online self-help. The results did not support this expectation. None of the full scales were found to have a significant correlation with preference for type of support group.

The aim of this qualitative study was to examine bereaved individuals’ experiences of support from their social networks and participation in support groups. The theoretical framework is based on theories about social support and parts of the attachment theory. Data were collected from four interviews and analysed by the study’s theoretical framework. The results have shown that the interviewed persons found emotional, instrumental and informative support from their own social networks important after their loss. Receiving constructive feedback from the social networks, and or various support groups, were also important factors. The interviewed persons expressed that the perceived and offered support was not satisfying and that they would have appreciated further help. The results also showed that most of the inter-viewed persons found their participation in support groups important as the groups made it possible for them to express their inherent feelings and thoughts. They also found it important to be able to talk with individuals who had experienced similar losses. My findings support earlier research that states the importance of social support and the possibility to express grieving reactions after a loss.

The purpose of this study was to examine parents’ grief after the loss of a child. To be more specifically the aim of the study was to find out how the parents experienced the bereavement and how they manage to keep on with their lives without their child. We also examined their experience of professional help and the help of self - help groups. We decided to use crisis theory according to Johan Cullberg. Our study was based on internet questionnaires with open questions. We chose to send the questionnaires by mail to seventeen parents´ and then they answered the questions and sent the questionnaires back to us. The parents´ lived in different parts of Sweden except for one that lived abroad. We chose different themes in the questionnaires. The themes were: the grieving process, the professional help, support groups, memorial pages and blogs. The result of our study is that parents´ experience of the grief is in general the same, but the way they have chosen to keep on with their lives differs. Some of them feel that support – groups have been a lifesaver and some feel that the family has been the most important support in the grieving process. Blogs and memorial pages have also been a big part in the grieving process. Some of the parents´ also had a negative experience when it came to the professional help they were/or were not offered.

A Life with the Shoah - a study of social work with aging survivors The Holocaust left it´s survivors with open wounds which in many cases still remain “painfully open”, as Elie Wiesel has metaphorically written. This study is not a historical documentation of what happened then and there. It is a study dealing with contemporary social work carried out with aging survivors in order to deal with their current needs. Many of these survivors are today aged and suffer more than before in the aftermath of the Holocaust trauma, which they went through more than half a decade ago. It is a challenge to provide support to a group of people who have lived through such extreme trauma. This requires professional competence as well as a well-based understanding of each individual service user’s needs. As the findings of this study show, the long term effects of extremely traumatic events can be profound and exacerbate or resurface much later in life due to many factors – especially if initially left insufficiently treated. The elderly survivor lacks the capacity to defend himself/herself against intrusive memories and feelings of insecurity, hence in need of professional support. The purpose of this study has been to analyse and describe (through a social work perspective) (1) the needs of support and interventions which the elderly survivors of the Holocaust have today, and (2) the contemporary social work which is internationally carried out with this target group. The theoretical frameworks mainly used in this study are Constructivist Self-Development Theory (CSDT) and organisational theory, through a symbolic perspective. The study is carried out in a qualitative manner and is mainly based on literature studies, but narrative studies and three semi-structured interviews have also contributed to lay the empirical basis of the study.