Full Description
Here is new information on the development of international and intercultural research on self-help groups. This book reflects the many developments which have occurred in the field over the past decade, emphasizing empirical research. Self-Help and Mutual Aid Groups provides specific research findings and honed concepts to help health professionals learn more about self-help groups and work effectively with such groups. More countries and ethnic groups are now involved in the self-help movement, and this volume increases knowledge of how different cultures react to and participate in self-help mutual aid and how self-help groups can be adapted to fit different racial or ethnic populations. Self-Help and Mutual Aid Groups explores the definition of self-help, the centrality of culture as a major factor explaining variability in self-help, the development of appropriate methodological tools, and the role and involvement of professionals. It brings together different traditions of research for the study of cross- and intercultural and inter- and intraorganizational aspects of self-help groups. Contributors who represent various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, social work, and nursing, discuss:
a paradigm for research in self-help
the development of self-help groups in Japan, Hong Kong, and the former East Germany
the participation of blacks in Alcoholics Anonymous
the participation of Mexican Americans in groups for parents of the mentally ill
relationships between self-help groups and health professionals
predictors of burnout in self-help group leaders
characteristics of effective groups
ways individuals change their world view through self-help participationSelf-Help and Mutual Aid Groups is an informative and helpful resource for self-help researchers and teachers, students, and professionals who want to be more effective in their work with self-help groups across cultural and national lines.
Contents
Contents
Preface
Universal and Particular Attributes of Self-Help: A Framework for International and Intranational Analysis
Participatory Action Research as a Strategy for Studying Self-Help Groups Internationally
Self-Help Groups in Japan: Trends and Traditions
The Development of Self-Help in Germany's New Provinces (Former East Germany): The Case of Schwerin
Advocacy on Self-Help for Patients With Chronic Illness: The Hong Kong Experience
Mexican American and Anglo American Parents of the Mentally Ill: Attitudes and Participation in Family Support Groups
Are Twelve Step Programs Appropriate for Disenfranchised Groups? Evidence From a Study of Posttreatment Mutual Help Involvement
Understanding Worldview Transformation in Members of Mutual Help Groups
Partnerships Between Health Professionals and Self-Help Groups: Meanings and Mechanisms
Predictors of Burnout Among Self-Help Group Leaders
Social Climate Correlates of Effectiveness in Alliance for the Mentally Ill Groups
The Involvement of Self-Help Groups With Mental Health and Medical Professionals: The Self-Helpers' Perspective
Workshop on "Good Practice" in the Collaboration Between Professionals and Mutual Aid Groups
Self-Help Group Participation Among People With Severe Mental Illness
Conclusion
Index
Reference Notes Included
