Experiences Of Peer Support Research Articles

Peer support experiences among Chinese parents who lost their only child: A qualitative study

Chinese parents who lost their only child are at high risk of mental health problems. Peer support seems to be a crucial resource for their adaptation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants to explore peer support experiences in this population. Three forms of peer support were identified, namely, online groups, offline activities, and one-to-one contacts. The functions of support included emotional, instrumental, and informational support. Some unique characteristics emerged (e.g., negative experiences). Certain challenges were identified (e.g., lacking professional guidance). The findings indicate that future interventions focused on peer support should be developed.

Peer support in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): a qualitative study.

Peer support, a distinctive form of social support in which patients share emotional, social, and practical help based on their own lived experience of illness and treatment, positively impacts patient-reported outcomes in cancer populations. However, data on peer support experiences among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are limited. We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews among 12 allogeneic HSCT recipients who were ≤6 months post transplant without any complications and 13 allogeneic HSCT recipients >6 months post transplant and living with chronic graft-versus-host disease. Interviews explored patients’ experiences with peer support and their preferences for a peer support intervention tailored to the needs of HSCT recipients. While the majority (70%) of participants reported no formal experience with peer support, most (83%) articulated themes of potential benefits of peer support (e.g., managing expectations and uncertainty that accompany HSCT). Most participants (60%) reported a preference for a peer support intervention prior to the HSCT hospitalization. Despite the limited data on peer support interventions among HSCT recipients and lack of formal peer support experience in most of our cohort, our study shows that HSCT recipients clearly acknowledge the potential benefits of a peer support intervention, and they prefer that it start prior to transplantation.

Peer support in an outpatient clinic for people living with human immunodeficiency virus: a qualitative study of service users\u2019 experiences

BackgroundAlthough human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become a manageable condition with increasing life expectancy, people living with HIV (PLHIV) are still often isolated from society due to stigma and discrimination. Peer support provides one avenue for increased social support. Given the limited research on peer support from the perspective of PLHIV, this study explored their experiences of peer support organised by healthcare professionals in an outpatient clinical setting.MethodsThe study used a qualitative, descriptive research design for an in-depth understanding of peer support provided to PLHIV in the context of outpatient clinics. Healthcare professionals contributed to the recruitment of 16 participants. We conducted in-depth interviews about participants’ experiences of peer support, and performed a directed content analysis of the data. Further, we sorted the data into pre-determined categories.ResultsThe pre-determined categories constituted attachment, social integration, an opportunity for nurturance, reassurance of worth, reliable alliance, and guidance. The identified themes were: gained emotional support, disclosure behaviour allowed garnering of emotional support, non-disclosure promoted the need to meet a peer, experienced a sense of belonging, activated an opportunity for mutual support, means to re-establish belief in one’s own worth, perceived a positive affirmation of disease management, facilitated dialogue about disease management, the outpatient clinic as a safe place, and a setting for flexible, individualised support.ConclusionsThis study highlights the peer support experiences of PLHIV in the context of outpatient clinics. The participants’ experiences align with previous findings, showing that peer support contributes to mutual emotional support between peers. This is particularly important in cultures of non-disclosure where PLHIV experience intersectional stigma. Additionally, our results show outpatient clinics to be supportive surroundings for facilitating peer support, ensuring confidentiality in peer support outreach. Therefore, peer support contributes positively to individualising outpatient clinic services to meet the changing needs of PLHIV.

Supporting medical students to support peers: a qualitative interview study

BackgroundStudents may be the first to recognise and respond to psychological distress in other students. Peer support could overcome medical student reluctance to seek help despite their high rates of mental ill-health. Yet, despite the adoption of peer support programs, there is little evidence of impact on students. Peer support programs may assume that medical students accept and view peer support positively. We explored these assumptions by asking students about their experiences and views on peer support.MethodsQualitative semi-structured interviews exploring peer support experiences and views on peer support were conducted with ten medical students at two contrasting medical schools. Informed by a constructivist stance, interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis.ResultsThree groups of themes were identified: participants’ experiences of peer support encounters, concerns about providing support, and views on students’ roles in peer support. Participants readily recalled signs of peer distress. Encounters were ad hoc, informal, and occurred within relationships based on friendship or by being co-located in the same classes or placements. Concerns about initiating and offering support included lack of expertise, maintaining confidentiality, stigma from a mental health diagnosis, and unclear role boundaries, with implications for acceptance of student roles in peer support.ConclusionsOur study emphasised the centrality of social relationships in enabling or discouraging peer support. Relationships developed during medical studies may anticipate the collegial relationships between medical professionals. Nevertheless, only some students are willing to undertake peer support roles. We suggest different strategies for promoting informal peer support that can be offered by any student, to those promoting formal support roles for selected students. Future research focusing on the impact for both the students who receive, and on the students who provide peer support is called for.

Students’ experiences of the development of generic competences in the Finnish higher education context – the role of the teaching-learning environment and approaches to learning

ABSTRACT To face the challenges demanded by a changing and uncertain world, it is essential for students to develop generic competences during their studies. However, recent research shows worrying results concerning the development of generic competences among higher education students. This quantitative study explores students’ experiences of the development of generic competences and the connections to the experiences of the teaching-learning environment at a university of applied sciences. Further, the significance of the students’ approaches to learning is examined. Generic competences were examined on two dimensions: (1) constructing and applying knowledge and (2) collaboration and communication. Through a path analysis (N = 191), the study showed that students’ experiences of the interest and relevance of the studies and working-life orientation were directly connected to the development of competence in constructing and applying knowledge. The students’ experiences of peer support were directly connected to the development of competences in collaboration and communication. Some differences were detected in how students who adopted different approaches to learning reported the relations between their experience of the teaching-learning environment and generic competences. The study has implications for the development of teaching-learning environments where pedagogical practices should be in accordance with the expected development of generic competences.

Peer support facilitates post-traumatic growth in first responders: A literature review

Introduction First responders are routinely exposed to traumatic workplace incidents that can result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). First responder organizations utilize different types of peer led programs to support first responders following a critical incident including the Critical Incident Stress Management Program (CISM) and stand-alone peer support programs. Little research has been done to determine the benefits or limitations of stand-alone peer support programs on the mental health of first responders. The aim of this project was to understand what characteristics of peer support facilitate post-traumatic growth (PTG) in first responders. Methods A literature search was completed using the City University of Seattle library database, ResearchGate and Google Scholar. The studies used in this review were found on EBCSOhost, ProQuest, PubMed and Wiley Online. This review includes literature published since 2006 that references post-traumatic growth in first responders, and/or their preferences for support, their coping styles and organizational impacts on growth. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify the themes and patterns in the final 10 research papers. Results This literature review identified five themes of formal and informal peer interactions that support PTG in first responders. (1) Peer support assists first responders with the processing of traumatic events and (2) managing organizational stressors. (3) Peer support alone may not lead to PTG and requires the use of adaptive coping behaviours. (4) First responders who actively engage with peer support experience increased well-being and (5) relational safety with peers encourages disclosure that leads to post-traumatic growth. Conclusion Formal and informal peer support contribute to post-traumatic growth (PTG) in first responders. Further research needs to be done to differentiate between the effects of trained peer support and support from colleagues.

Peer Support Experienced by Mothers of Children With Congenital Heart Defects in Sweden.

The aim of this study was to describe experiences of peer support among mothers of children with congenital heart defects. Ten mothers were interviewed through a semi-structured approach and interviews were analyzed with systematic text condensation. The respondents established various channels used for peer support and navigated between the channels depending on what type of information or support they needed. Through the channels, they found peers they developed strong friendships with and who they relied on for emotional support. Communicating with peers involved the reciprocal exchange of unique emotional support between peers who understand each other as well as the exchange of information derived from their collective knowledge, and thus, difficult to find without the help of peers. The findings illustrate the potential strengths of establishing reliable collaboration and liaisons between clinical units and peer support networks.

Scaffolding the Online Peer-support Experience: Novice Supporters' Strategies and Challenges

People with mental distress are increasingly turning to one-to-one synchronous communication websites to receive peer support from other members. Though some research has identified benefits and challenges of online peer-support, there is a limited understanding of how to best prepare and scaffold for untrained peer supporters as they attempt to become skillful in an online setting. We recruited 30 (15 pairs) participants to engage in an online support conversation about procrastination problems, gave one member of each pair minimal training in the principles and strategies of motivational interviewing, and used interviews and conversation transcripts to examine challenges novice helpers faced when providing support and learning new conversational skills. We presented the helpers with two conversation goals to achieve with the conversation: building understanding, and promoting readiness for change. The research identified the common strategies the helpers used to achieve these goals and the challenges they faced. We also discuss theoretical and design implications for platform designers to better scaffold this experience.

P0200 - Ten years’ experience of peer support by specifically trained prostate cancer patients

P0200 - Ten years’ experience of peer support by specifically trained prostate cancer patients

The Intentional Differences: A Qualitative Study of the Views and Experiences of Non-peer Mental Health Providers on Working Together with Peer Support Colleagues in Mental Health.

The study reports the results of a qualitative study on the views and experiences of non-peer mental health providers on working together with peer colleagues in mental health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 providers in different mental health settings. Data were systematic analyzed using thematic analysis and resulted in three overall themes: (1) The relationship and collaboration between the mental health providers and their peer colleagues, (2) The benefits of working with peers, and (3) The challenges of working with peers. In analyzing the data material, the theme of the relationship and collaboration between the non-peer mental health providers and their peer colleagues could be organized into two subthemes on the differences that the providers perceived between themselves and their peer colleagues. One subtheme was on differences when the providers perceived the differences as positive and meaningful. The other subtheme was on differences between themselves and their peer colleagues when the providers perceived the differences as concerning. This study's findings show that the attitudes and experiences of peer support in mental health providers are in general positive, but also that mental health providers in the early phases of peer support implementation could have many concerns and may find the perceived and mainly valued differences between themselves and their peer support colleagues also distressing. The implications for practice include a need to address possible barriers to peer support, including frustration or feelings of injustice among mental health providers, especially as such issues are not easy to pinpoint or address by formal guidelines on peer support.

A Scoping Review of the Empirical Literature on Peer Support for People Living with HIV.

People living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy need support related to linkage to care and self-management in everyday life. Peer support has been found to provide varied support according to the unique needs of the group. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of research on peer support provided to people living with HIV. A search was conducted in eight databases until May 2021, and two reviewers independently screened all identified studies. We sorted the included studies into categories and conducted descriptive analyses. For this communication, we included 34 studies representing three study categories: the experiences of peer support (n = 23), program descriptions (n = 6), and training of peer supporters (n = 5). The studies were published between 2000 and 2021 and included 4275 participants from 10 countries. The flexibility of peer support complements healthcare services, but there is a need to clarify and adjust the ongoing support when living with HIV.

Students\u2019 experiences of study-related exhaustion, regulation of learning, peer learning and peer support during university studies

The present mixed-method longitudinal study examines students’ experiences of study-related exhaustion, regulation of learning, peer learning and peer support during university studies. At the first measurement point, 188 first-year students completed the questionnaire. At the second measurement point, 91 of the 188 students participated in the follow-up study at their fourth study year and completed the same questionnaire again. Of these, twelve students were interviewed. The results showed that experienced study-related exhaustion and self-regulation of content increased during studies. However, the results also showed a large individual variation in experienced study-related exhaustion. The students whose exhaustion decreased described experiences of peer support that helped them to develop their self-regulation skills. Students whose study-related exhaustion remained low evaluated their self-regulation skills as good. They experienced that they did not need other students’ support in the regulation of learning. The students whose study-related exhaustion increased or remained high described more problems in self-regulation. Most students relied on peer support because of self-regulation problems. However, not all students used other students’ support despite of problems in studying. It can be concluded that regulation skills have a key role in experienced study-related exhaustion during studies.

Relationships Between Adolescents with Cancer and Healthy Peers: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: Despite the developmental relevance and role in social support, research on relationships between adolescents with cancer and healthy peers is limited. To address this gap, we aimed to describe adolescents' perceptions of their friendships during the 1st year following a cancer diagnosis, including relationship changes, factors that promote/inhibit relationships, and definitions and experiences of peer support. Methods: Eligible adolescents were 12-20 years old, <1 year of a new cancer diagnosis, and English speaking. Participants completed 1:1 semistructured interviews that were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results: Fourteen adolescents enrolled and completed interviews (mean [M]age = 14.8, standard deviation [SD] = 1.8; M = 6.3 months postdiagnosis, SD = 3.2 months). Domains included (1) shifting relationships, (2) staying connected, (3) making it hard to stay close, and (4) showing me they care. Relationship changes were positive and negative, and many described a process of recognizing true friends. Staying connected with peers through communication, technology, and feeling up to date promoted closeness, while distance, treatment-related restrictions, and friends' discomfort were hindrances. Adolescents defined supportive friends as those who were there for them, checked in often, and gave them gifts. Conclusion: Despite relationship changes, adolescents with cancer desire connection with peers during treatment and perceive that healthy peers provide valuable support. Supporting connectedness to healthy peers during treatment may be a promising future direction to mitigate social disruption and promote well-being.

Peer support among parents of children with congenital heart defects: A qualitative analysis of written responses submitted via an online survey

AimTo explore experiences of peer support among parents of children with congenital heart defects.DesignA study analysing written responses to open‐ended questions about peer support, collected via an online survey distributed in Sweden.MethodsRespondents were recruited during 3 months in 2018 by means of convenience sampling, through ads via the Swedish foundation for families with children who have heart defects and two closed Facebook groups for peer support. An online survey containing open‐ended questions was distributed and responses were analysed with systematic text condensation.ResultsPeer support was grounded in a mutual understanding among parents and involved highly appreciated emotional support. Listening to the stories of peers meant an opportunity to gain useful insights about what life is like for parents of children with heart defects. Receiving and providing peer support was described as rewarding on a personal level. Negative aspects of peer support were also described, which sometimes led to psychological distress and withdrawal from peer support activities.ConclusionPeer support is emotionally relieving and appreciated among parents of children with congenital heart defects, who consider providing the support a rewarding responsibility. While peer support activities may have considerable benefits for individuals, it may also lead to psychological distress for some.ImpactThis study addressed peer support among parents of children with congenital heart defects. The main findings illustrate the potential impact peer support can have on individuals and calls attention to the experienced benefits related to peer support activities, while also providing some insights regarding potential negative aspects. The findings have relevance for nurses, midwives, and other health professionals working in settings providing care for these families.

Social Worker Well-being: A Large Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract Social workers play a vital role in maintaining and improving the lives of the service users that they work with. Despite this, the role is replete with high levels of stress-related sickness absence, turnover intentions and low levels of jobs satisfaction in addition to poor working conditions. This study sought to further investigate working conditions in the UK social workers, as well as the reasons for these working conditions via a mixed-methods survey and interview study. A total of 3,421 responses were gained from the cross-sectional survey which looked at working conditions, perceived stress, job satisfaction and turnover intentions (both migration and attrition), with the semi-structured interview schedule (n = 15) based on survey findings and analysed via thematic analysis continuing through to saturation. Similar to 2018, results demonstrated poor working conditions, irrespective of job role, and regression analysis suggested each of demands, control, managerial support, role and change influenced stress. Qualitative results found that workload, lack of managerial support and service user/family abuse were distinct demands associated with the role, whereas buffering positive resources were the social work role, peer support and positive managerial support. Implications for managerial practice, and harnessing the positive experience of peer support, are discussed.

Experiences of Occupational Performance in Survivors of Stroke Attending Peer Support Groups.

Survivors of stroke often experience environmental isolation and decreased occupational performance after discharge from the hospital. Peer groups benefit psychological, social, and cognitive functioning, though few studies have examined their influence on occupational performance of survivors of stroke. This study explores the experiences of occupational performance in survivors of stroke attending an outpatient peer support group. An interpretive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with seven survivors of stroke attending an outpatient peer support group. Data was thematically analyzed. Four themes related to the experience of peer support on occupational performance emerged: finding hope to return to meaningful occupation, a place for belonging, problem-solving occupational concerns, and finding purpose beyond oneself. This research adds to the existing literature that peer support groups help survivors of stroke reengage in meaningful occupations, manage their stroke experience, and move positively through recovery.

Experiences of participation in supervised group exercise among pregnant women with depression or low psychological well-being: A qualitative descriptive study

ObjectiveTo explore experiences with supervised group exercise during pregnancy in women with depression or low psychological well-being. DesignA qualitative descriptive study based on semi-structured, individual, in-depth interviews analyzed by means of thematic analysis. SettingThe Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. ParticipantsThrough a purposeful, criterion-based sampling strategy, women with a current diagnosis of depression with prescribed antidepressant and/or a score ≤50 on the five-item World Health Organization Well-being Index were included. The women were recruited from a randomized controlled trial on the effects of supervised group exercise (the EWE study) and participated in the exercise program during the period 26 January 2017–8 March 2018. A total of 282 pregnant women participated in the RCT, of which 143 women were allocated to the intervention group. Of these, 27 women were eligible and were invited; 19 accepted the invitation and were included in the current qualitative descriptive study. Diversity of age, parity, level of education and employment status was seen in the sample. The average time from completing the exercise program to conducting the interview was 6.5 months, ranging from 1 week to 13 months. InterventionThe participants were offered an in-hospital supervised group exercise program twice weekly for 12 weeks from 17–22 weeks gestation in addition to standard antenatal care. Measurements and findingsQualitative thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in the identification of the overarching theme: Vulnerable yet strong. This theme was comprised from three main themes (1) From judging the body to feeling it, (2) A “we” is created, and (3) Taking responsibility and succeeding, together with nine sub-themes. Key conclusionsThe supervised group exercise intervention provided experiences of peer support and increased body awareness, which contributed to an experience of improved psychological equilibrium and preparedness for the coming birth and motherhood. The findings suggest that participation in group-based supervised exercise during pregnancy in women with depression or low psychological well-being contributes to psychological resilience, which may persist as a positive influence postpartum and beyond. Implications for practiceIn-hospital supervised group-based exercise can be a safe means to health promotion in a secure environment that supports pregnant women's physical and mental well-being while also preparing them for birth and the transition to motherhood.

Adolescent Mothers' Perceptions of a Mobile Phone-Based Peer Support Intervention.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is prevalent among adolescent mothers and is associated with negative maternal and infant outcomes. Peer support can improve health outcomes among adult and adolescent populations and involves the provision of informational, emotional, and appraisal support delivered by a peer. To describe adolescent mothers' perceptions of a mobile phone-based peer support (MPPS) intervention designed to prevent PPD. This analysis draws on data from the MPPS intervention group of a pilot randomized controlled trial of pregnant adolescents 17 to 24 years old (n = 16). Maternal perceptions of the intervention were measured using the validated Peer Support Evaluation Inventory at 12 weeks postpartum. Participants acknowledged receiving supportive actions including emotional (91%), informational (66%), and appraisal (64%) support. Participants perceived positive relationship qualities with their peer mentor such as trustworthiness (94%), acceptance (75%), empathy (81%), and commitment (81%) and felt their peer mentor possessed social competence (91%) and social skills (91%). Overall, 100% of participants were satisfied with their peer support experience and would recommend this type of support to a friend. Participants perceived their experience with the MPPS intervention positively, which lends support to MPPS as an acceptable way to provide support to adolescent mothers.

Experiences of sharing, learning and caring: Peer support in a Finnish group of mothers.

Mothers' peer groups constitute a form of communal support that affords potential benefits but has received little attention in Finland. At present, only a few studies have investigated the support provided by peer groups of mothers. This article explores mothers' experiences of peer support in a Finnish peer group. First, the data gathered in 2015 comprise data from thematic interviews with 23 mothers participating in peer group activities. Second, the data include written notes gathered during participant observation in the group's 12 meetings, two outings and summer camp. The data were analysed by utilising a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach, and three themes representing mothers' experiences were identified: (a) sharing of experiences, (b) learning from experiences and (c) experiences of mutual caring. By exploring relationships among these themes, this study found that the sharing of experiences is a starting point for learning and caring among mothers. These findings suggest that the sharing of experiences is a crucial part of peer support because it results in learning and caring. Versatile support can be enabled by strengthening the preconditions for sharing.

The Role of Peer Support and Its Contribution as an Effective Response to Addressing the Emotional Well-Being of Pilots

Abstract. The provision of pilot peer support in commercial aviation is a recent recommendation following the Germanwings pilot suicide–murder crash in 2015. Conducted in a South African aviation context, this study explored the phenomenon of peer support and its role and contribution as an effective response to addressing the emotional well-being of pilots. A qualitative phenomenological research design was followed using Rubin and Rubin’s in-depth, semi-structured interview technique to understand lived experiences of peer support. Nine interviews were held, six with airline pilots – a combination of peers and flight operations managers – and three with mental health professionals (MHPs). Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis (TA) method elicited themes in relation to peer support and the mental health and well-being of pilots. Four themes emerged relating to (a) the conceptualization of peer support, the role of the peer, and the principles on which the process is founded; (b) pilots’ experience of their workplace as emotionally “unsafe” and deficient in acknowledging the nature of different emotional stressors; (c) the well-being of pilots and medical certification of fitness for duty; and (d) the multidimensional contribution of peer support and factors critical to integrating successful and sustainable peer support. This study underscores the importance of developing a more integrated definition of safety in aviation that incorporates supporting the mental health and well-being of pilots. This paper addresses the role and contribution of peer support and considers some of the challenges to its integration as a safety initiative.