Hi heavyresearchbuyer-ga,
Here is the information you have requested.
If you have any questions about the information in which I have
provided, do feel free to request a clarification of my answer.
Thanks,
chellphill-ga
Social Support and Seniors
http://www.seniornet.org/php/default.php?PageID=5475
"Study Focus
The focus of the study was how older adults use the Internet for
social support. By social support I mean any type of helping behavior,
including emotional support, advice, elevating another's mood using
humor, etc. Most of the previous research on social support has found
that it can have a major effect on psychological and physical health.
While older adults have not been ignored in previous social support
research, there are almost no studies that have examined older adults
using the Internet for social support. This area has needed to be
researched given the fact that more and more older adults are using
Internet technology for communication. "
Social Support and physical activity
http://www.phe.queensu.ca/courses/phed365/Chapter10.ppt (power point presentation)
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:5-Yk6poBDYEJ:www.phe.queensu.ca/courses/phed365/Chapter10.ppt+%22role+of+social+support%22&hl=en&lr=lang_en
(as html)
Support Groups for Parents of Children with Disabilities
http://bluewirecs.tzo.com/canchild/kc/KC1994-3.html
"Research Evidence about the General Effects of Support Groups
The increasing number of self-help groups and organizations suggests
that these groups are providing a needed service to people
experiencing chronic strain or stress life situations. However, the
effectiveness of support groups in the general population has not been
well researched. Evidence of the effectiveness of support groups rests
largely on testimonials. Members generally agree that they are
satisfied with the support they receive from these groups, and feel
that the groups are effective (Biegel & Yamatani, 1987; Diehl,
Moffitt, & Wade, 1991; Hinrichsen, Revenson, & Shinn, 1985; Levy,
1976). Changes in attitudes towards disability and a sense of
belonging and confidence are frequently noted (Rollins, 1987).
However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of either
parent-led support groups or professionally-led parent support
programs."
New Discoveries in Psychosocial Oncology:
The Value of Support Groups
http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/programs/frankly/newdiscoveries/psychosocial/value.asp
"For example, in controlled studies at Stanford University and UCLA,
psychological distress and pain were significantly reduced while
quality of life significantly improved in women who participated in
breast cancer support groups. Some studies have even shown increased
survival as a result of support group participation. More recently in
a replication of previous research, Pamela J. Goodwin, M.D. and her
colleagues found that although women in professionally-facilitated
support groups did not survive longer, they experienced significant
quality of life improvements-they were less distressed and suffered
less pain."
Research On Peer support Groups For Post Graduates
http://ultibase.rmit.edu.au/Articles/nov03/fisher1.htm
?The authors describe how the experience of participating in GAS, a
peer support group consciously set up within an action research
framework, provided intellectual, practical and emotional support for
their research, as well as offering accountability and opportunities
to reflect on the process. It is argued that the benefits of such a
group significantly outweigh the potential costs and that structured
meetings of small peer support groups offer an important adjunct to
supervision.?
The Effect of Peer Support on Postpartum Depression
http://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2003/march/dennis.asp
The effect of peer support on breast-feeding duration among primiparous women
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/166/1/21
?The telephone-based peer support intervention was effective in
maintaining breast-feeding to 3 months post partum and improving
satisfaction with the infant feeding experience. The high satisfaction
with and acceptance of the intervention indicates that breast-feeding
peer support programs, in conjunction with professional health
services, are effective.?
History of Peer Support
http://www.mentalhealthconsumer.net/peer-support.html
??the information included in this descriptor of Peer Support and its
validity and value as an integral method of service delivery for
consumers of mental health services is taken from a document entitled
- the "South Fraser Peer Support Research Project Report (2000)"?
Benefits of support groups in the management of filariasis
http://www.who.int/tdr/research/finalreps/no56.htm
" This study demonstrated that group members reported improved quality
of life, fewer symptoms, better understanding of the illness and more
frequent home care practices."
Maslow's Hierarchy and the Singles Club
http://www.rain.org/~hutch/mas_hier.html
Rationale for Support Groups
http://www.moffitt.usf.edu/pubs/ccj/v4n5/article3.html
Benefits of Caregiver Support Groups
http://www.lighthouse.org/supportgroup/discussion_guide/caregiver.htm
" Some research studies compared caregivers who did not attend any
kind of social support group with those who did. For example,
caregivers attending social support groups had an improved ability to
cope with the stress related to caregiving (Knight, Lutzky, &
Macofsky-Urban, 1993; Toseland, Labrecque, Goebel, & Whitney, 1992;
Toseland, Rossiter, Peak, & Smith, 1990) and, over time, had a
significant reduction in caregiving burdens and stresses (Labrecque,
Peak, & Toseland, 1992; Toseland et al, 1992; Ostwald, Hepburn, Caron,
Burns, & Mantell, 1999). Moreover, individuals attending support
groups showed an improvement in quality of life with caregivers
evaluating their roles as less problematic (Mohide et al, 1990)."
Abstracts:
The Role of Social Support in Coping with Daily Pain among Patients
with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Journal of Health and Psychology
http://hpq.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/9/5/677
(required membership or you may purchase article in full for 25.00 USD)
The role of social support in the functioning of patients with unipolar depression
The American Journal Of Psychiatry
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/140/4/473
The Relationship of Self-Actualization to Social Support, Life Stress,
and Adjustment
http://www.sbp-journal.com/journal_detail/239
"The previously unexplored relationship of self-actualization to life
stress and perceived social support from family and from friends was
investigated. Measures of all variables were administered to 54 female
and 52 male adult undergraduate students (age range of 18-81 years).
The relationship of each variable to psychological adjustment
(depression) also was assessed. As predicted, correlational results
revealed self-actualization to be related positively to perceived
social support and inversely to depression and life stress!"
A few theories that may explain the success of those in support groups:
Commitment
http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/commitment.htm
"When we are committed to something, we will not change our minds very
easily, especially if that commitment was public."
In-Group Bias
http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/in-group_bias.htm
"If we believe that someone else is in a group to which we belong, we
will have positive views of them and give them preferential
treatment.This works because we build our self-esteem through
belonging, and the presence of someone from an in-group reminds us of
that belonging." |
