Changing the focus and varying the intensity of work: Health- and social-care professionals as supporters of a mothers’ peer group

Abstract

ABSTRACT In Nordic countries, peer groups commonly gain support for their actions from health- and social-care professionals. When these professionals support the actions of peer groups, they can also support group members at the individual level. However, little is known about this individual-level support as part of these professionals’ work. In this article, I explore the support that health and social care professionals provide to both the members of the peer group and the group action. I examine how support for group action and support for the members of the peer group are linked in the work of health- and social-care professionals. I conduct this examination by studying the experiences of the members of a mothers’ peer group. This Finnish peer group is open and consists of mothers who are willing to assemble with other mothers. The primary data of the study come from thematic interviews with 23 mothers participating in peer group activities. The supplementary data include written participant observation notes taken during 12 group meetings, two outings and a summer camp. I analysed the data by utilizing a six-step model. The findings reveal that support for group action and the support for group members are linked through the intensity of professionals’ work. When professionals support the action of the group at a high level of intensity, they support its members at a low level of intensity. The findings yield a new perspective on work with peer groups but also prompt us to consider professionals’ coping and resources.