Participation In Self-help Groups Research Articles

Online social support for obese adults: Exploring the role of forum activity

PurposeWorldwide, the number of obese persons continues to grow. Online-mediated self-help groups represent an opportunity for obese persons to support each other. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether and how the use of and active participation in online self-help groups is associated with perceived informational and emotional support among obese adults. MethodsWe conducted an online-based questionnaire (N=230) with users of online self-help groups for obese adults in Germany. ResultsFindings revealed that forum activity is significantly correlated with perceived informational and emotional support. While asking questions was strongly correlated with both types of social support, sharing opinions and answering posts were more strongly correlated with perceived emotional support. ConclusionThe level of social support in online communities depends on an individual’s forum activity. Our findings offer a foundation for professionals in the health care sector to enhance their understanding, make recommendations, and further develop online self-help groups.

Effect of empowerment on the quality of life of the survivors of breast cancer: The moderating effect of self-help group participation.

To analyze the moderating effect of self-help group participation on the relationship between empowerment and quality of life for survivors of breast cancer. This study was conducted in breast cancer centers in general hospitals and long-term care hospitals with 264 survivors of breast cancer. The Cancer Empowerment Questionnaire and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast were used for the data collection. Differences between the regularly attending participants in the self-help groups and those who did not regularly attend were studied and these groups were dichotomized. The empowerment of the survivors of breast cancer significantly influenced their quality of life. Depending on their participation in the self-help group, there was a significant difference in their quality of life. After controlling for empowerment, however, participation in the self-help group did not significantly influence the survivors' quality of life. Participation in the self-help group had a significant effect on the survivors' sense of empowerment, which in turn positively influenced their quality of life. It is essential to provide emotional support, including valuable information, to the survivors of breast cancer who do not participate in self-help groups.

Japanese normative data for the Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs about Stuttering (UTBAS) Scales for adults who stutter

PurposeThis study reports Japanese normative data for the Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs about Stuttering (UTBAS) scales. We outline the translation process, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the UTBAS scales. MethodsThe translation of the UTBAS scales into Japanese (UTBAS-J) was completed using the standard forward-backward translation process, and was administered to 130 Japanese adults who stutter. To validate the UTBAS-J scales, scores for the Japanese and Australian cohorts were compared. Spearman correlations were conducted between the UTBAS-J and the Modified Erickson Communication Attitude scale (S-24), the self-assessment scale of speech (SA scale), and age. The test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the UTBAS-J were assessed. Independent t-tests were conducted to evaluate the differences in the UTBAS-J scales according to gender, speech treatment experience, and stuttering self-help group participation experience. ResultsThe UTBAS-J showed good test-retest reliability, high internal consistency, and moderate to high significant correlations with S-24 and SA scale. A weak correlation was found between the UTBAS-J scales with age. No significant relationships were found between UTBAS-J scores, gender and speech treatment experience. However, those who participated in the stuttering self-help group demonstrated lower UTBAS-J scores than those who did not. ConclusionGiven the current scarcity of clinical assessment tools for adults who stutter in Japan, the UTBAS-J holds promise as an assessment tool and outcome measure for use in clinical and research environments.

Two-year prognosis after residential treatment for patients with alcohol dependence: three chief guidelines for sobriety in Japan.

BackgroundIn Japan, the three chief traditional guidelines for sobriety (3CGS) are regular medical checkups, participation in self-help groups, and pharmacotherapy with antidipsotropics. However, the official record of the origins of 3CGS is not clear. The aim of this current study was to assess 3CGS by an examination of the prognosis of patients with alcohol dependence 2 years after their discharge from a residential treatment program.Subjects and methodsThe association between subjects’ abstinence from alcohol and their regular medical checkups, participation in self-help groups, and treatment with antidipsotropics were prospectively examined. Two years after discharge, the relationship between the 3CGS compliance and abstinence rates was investigated as the primary outcome. In addition, the following were examined as secondary outcomes: the time taken till the first drink after discharge, whether the participants were readmitted to residential treatment, the number of days to readmission, the number of heavy drinking days, and recovery.ResultsA total of 98 patients participated. The perfect and partial abstinence rates for patients who followed all the principles of 3CGS were significantly higher than those for patients who followed no guidelines (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). The perfect abstinence rates for patients who had continued attending checkup sessions (P<0.001) and who were taking antidipsotropics (P<0.05) were significantly higher than those for patients who did not follow these components of 3CGS. However, the perfect abstinence rates were not higher for patients who had continued to participate in self-help groups. In addition, the perfect abstinence rate was statistically associated with regular medical checkups (adjusted odds ratio =5.33, 95% confidence interval =1.35–21.0) and participation in self-help groups (adjusted odds ratio =3.79, 95% confidence interval =1.17–12.3).ConclusionThis study, reports the effectiveness of 3CGS for the first time. The recovery rate of alcoholics 2 years after discharge from residential treatment was examined. However, due to the chronic nature of alcoholism, further studies are required to investigate the efficacy of 3CGS beyond 2 years.

Empowering Rural Women through Micro Finance: An Empirical Study

Objectives: The study is to understand and analyze the role of microfinance in women empowerment through Self Help Groups in Chidambaram taluk, to understand the demographic profile of Self Help Group members and to give suggestions for the improvement of performance of microfinance toward women’s empowerment through self help groups. Methods/ Analysis: This study is both empirical and descriptive in nature. Both Primary and Secondary data have been made use of the analysis. Primary data will be collected through field survey and questionnaires. Personal interviews with the officials concerned are also conducted to get the needed information for the analysis. Here structured questionnaire is used as a tool for data collection from SHG members. The overall progress of the project is being assessed with the help of secondary data which are collected from published sources like annual reports, records of CREED (Centre for Rural Education and Economic Development) office, internet, books etc. A proportionate random sampling method has been used for selecting the respondents from the total SHG’s. The population of this study is the total SHG members in Chidambaram Taluk, which is a finite population. There are 680 number of SHG members in Chidambaram Taluk. It refers to the number of items to be selected from the universe to constitute as a sample. In this study 200 number of SHG members in Chidambaram Taluk would be selected as size of the sample. The total sample comprises of 50 SHG members from each 4 blocks of Chidambaram Taluk (Chidambaram urban, Chidambaram rural, Vallampadugai, Kattumanarkoil). This study is conducted for duration of two months from 28th April 2015 to 30th of June 2015.The statistical tools used for analysis are as follows, Percentage Analysis Method, Weighted Average Method, and Paired ‘t’ test. The data analyzed used SPSS Version 16 software. The study has the following limitations, some of the respondents might have answered in biased manner, the Study was limited and confined to Chidambaram Taluk only and time was a major constraint due to which the sample size is limited. Findings: The study reveals that there is a significant difference observed between income generation, contribution to house hold income, participation in house hold financial decision, improvement in standard of living, change in social status, awareness about social issues, involvement in social issues at locality, improvement in basic house hold facilities and amenities, ability to solve family related problems, self-confidence, attainment of knowledge and skills, decision making capability and ability to tackle family problems before and after microfinance usage and participation in Self Help Group. Hence, the study concludes that women are empowered because of the usage of microfinance and participation in Self Help Group. Novelty/Improvement: In every economy, women play an integral part. For achieving all round development and harmonious growth, women should also be given equal rights. In order to achieve economic development, importance has to be given to the women labor. Nowadays SHG are voluntary organizations, through which members are given micro credits and it ease them to become entrepreneurs. The empowerment of women in rural as well as urban areas can be achieved through formation of Self Help Groups (SHG) of women. The economic empowerment, which is dependent on the overall empowerment of women, can be achieved through these SHGs which involve women in the areas like health, sanitation, nutrition, agriculture, forestry etc., apart from involving them in activities pertaining micro credit.

Quality of Life Among Narcotic Anonymous Male Members in Yazd City, Iran

Background Research evidence suggests that the quality of life (QoL) of substance abusers is seriously low..Objectives The aim of this study was to assess domains of QoL in narcotic anonymous (NA) members..Patients and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 386 NA members were randomly selected from the city of Yazd, Yazd province, Iran, in 2012. The World Health Organization Quality of Life -Brief Questionnaire was used to assess domain scores of QoL. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and LSD test with SPSS software version 17..Results The results showed that there was a significant difference between age, marital status, drug type used and length of abstinence with domains of QoL (P = 0.001)..Conclusions The findings of the current study show that consistent participation in NA self-help groups can significantly lead to an increase in QoL. Further research is recommended to find out causal relationships between participation in NA and QoL in Iran..

Personality disorder and substance related disorders: a six-month follow-up study with a Brazilian sample

ABSTRACT Objectives A few Brazilian researches correlate personality disorders (PD) and substance related disorders (SRD). The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between them, to evaluate the PD frequency among chemical dependents inpatients, this comorbidity association with social and demographic characteristics, used drug of choice, its impact on clinical evolution until the moment of their committal, the frequency of relapse, self-help group – and psychotherapic adherence among SRD patients six months following committal. Methods A 101 inpatients sample of chemical dependents was enrolled in 2 hospitals. The following instruments were applied: a questionnaire for social and demographic characteristics identification and drug use pattern, some questions from the sixth version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6), the SCID-II questionnaire and specific questions concerning psychotherapic and self-help groups participation, and medication use. Results From these 101 patients, 55.4% were diagnosed with PD, being avoidant (14.9%), borderline (11.9%) and antisocial (8.9%) the more frequent ones found. PD patients had an earlier crack use in life (p = 0.038) and had also more previous treatments than the ones without PD (p = 0.005). Borderline PD patients were less worried to substance use problem (p = 0.003). After 6-months follow-up, no statistical significance was found between patients with and without PD regarding drug use or treatment adherence. Conclusion A high PD diagnosis was found in drug use inpatients. Patients diagnosed with SRD and PD need the identification of this comorbidity and of their personality characteristics in order to plan a more comprehensive and effective treatment.

Determinants of participation in self-help-groups (SHG) and its impact on women empowerment

Purpose The purpose of this study is to gain meaningful insights into a microfinance programme in two different agro-ecological settings in India. The study, using primary survey data, attempts to examine individual, household and environmental characteristics that determine participation in a self-help group (SHG)–bank linkage programme in Odisha. Design/methodology/approach Primary data are collected by a stratified random sampling method. The sample size is 300 households and information is collected by canvassing a pre-designed schedule to women through door-to-door in-depth interviews. In addition, focus group discussions have been conducted to get qualitative information. A probit binary model is applied to examine the factors determining participation in a SHG–bank linkage programme. A composite index of women empowerment is computed taking three dimensions: autonomy, economic empowerment and the gender relationship. Further, ordinary least square multiple regression and treatment effect evaluation by propensity score matching is carried out to study the impact of participation on women empowerment. Findings The study finds that the programme has by-passed the poorest of the poor. It is observed, however, that participation in microfinance has a positive and significant impact on women empowerment. Research limitations/implications Given the research methodology adopted in this study, one concern is whether the results generalise. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further. Practical implications To improve status of women particularly in developing and underdeveloped regions, microfinance can act as a catalyst. Social implications Microfinance in the form of SHG–bank linkage should be promoted, particularly for those social groups and religious communities where women are discriminated. Their participation in SHG–bank linkage programme will improve their social status through empowerment. Originality/value This study illustrates how microfinance can improve the status of women.

Predicting Use of Community Mental Health Services: Do Demographics of Consumers Matter

Predicting Use of Community Mental Health Services: Do Demographics of Consumers Matter John Q. Hodges, Ph.D. Abstract The set of factors that predicted consumer use of professional mental health services was explored in one Midwestern state. Factors identified in the literature as potential predictors of mental health service utilization were entered into a stepwise regression analysis. The three most significant predictors of service utilization were the extent to which consumers perceived that services were available, residence in urban areas, and participation in self-help groups. Wherein residence was conceptualized as a proxy systemic predictor for actual available services rather than a demographic predictor, no demographic factors were found to be significant predictors of utilization for the consumers in this study. The findings provide behavioral health policymakers, practitioners, and researchers with information they can use to enhance programs and policies for persons who need mental health services. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v4n1a6

Performance of self-help groups in micro finance

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) emerge as an important strategy for empowering women and to alleviate poverty. India's SHG movement has emerged as the world's largest and most successful network. The main objective of this paper is to assess the study is conducted by using multi-stage random sampling method to collect primary data from the Akola District. The study revealed that Self-help group has earning on an average 14528/year to each member through dairy enterprise and 19600 thorough goats rearing. The study also concluded that on the extent of various levels of empowerment achieved by the members through their participation in SHGs. Personal, social, economic and financial empowerment were attempted which was possible due to microfinance.

Empowering the dividual

The utility of the term ‘dividual’ in the evaluation of a microenterprise project mounted by a major transnational corporation in Madhya Pradesh, India, is considered. Aimed at the empowerment of poor rural women and deployed across India as well as in several other countries, the project itself challenges the constraints of poverty and traditionalism on women's agency, particularly within the husband/wife relationship. Melanesian and Indian versions of the concept of the ‘dividual’, as formulated by anthropologists working in the two areas, are tested against a current formulation in South Asian development literature of women's empowerment through participation in local self-help groups. It is found that although the Melanesian version of the ‘dividual’ allows for transformation through the creation of a new reference point for innovative agency, it fails to take into account hierarchy in the form of the public/private divide typical of state societies and necessary to the formulation of empowerment strategies.

Effect of combining a health program with a microfinance-based self-help group on health behaviors and outcomes

ObjectivesWomen's participation in microfinance-based self-help groups (SHGs) and the resultant social capital may provide a basis to address the gap in health attainment for poor women and their children. We investigated the effect of combining a health program designed to improve health behaviours and outcomes with a microfinance-based SHG program. DesignA mixed method study was conducted among 34 villages selected from three blocks or district subdivisions of India; one in Gujarat, two in Karnataka. MethodsA set of 17 villages representing new health program areas were pair-matched with 17 comparison villages. Two rounds of surveys were conducted with a total of 472 respondents, followed by 17 key informant interviews and 17 focus group discussions. ResultsCompared to a matched comparison group, women in SHGs that received the health program had higher odds of delivering their babies in an institution (OR: 5.08, 95% CI 1.21–21.35), feeding colostrum to their newborn (OR: 2.83, 95% CI 1.02–5.57), and having a toilet at home (OR: 1.53, 95% CI 0.76–3.09). However, while the change was in the expected direction, there was no statistically significant reduction in diarrhoea among children in the intervention community (OR: 0.86, 95% CI 0.42–1.76), and the hypothesis that the health program would result in decreased out-pocket expenditures on treatment was not supported. ConclusionOur study found evidence that health programs implemented with microfinance-based SHGs is associated with improved health behaviours. With broad population coverage of SHGs and the social capital produced by their activities, microfinance-based SHGs may provide an avenue for addressing the health needs of poor women.

Empowerment of women through participation in self-help groups - A study in tribal area

Empowerment of women through participation in self-help groups - A study in tribal area

Ask the Expert: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Ask the Expert: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Relationships between psychosocial factors and quality of life for adults who stutter.

In this study, the author examined the relationship of social support, empowerment, self-help support group participation, and group identification to quality of life in adults who stutter. Two-hundred forty-nine adults who stutter completed a web-based survey, including measures of social support, empowerment, self-help support group participation, group identification, and quality of life. After controlling for demographic and stuttering parameters, both empowerment in the self-esteem/self-efficacy domain and social support from family significantly predicted quality of life in adults in the sample. Increased self-esteem/self-efficacy and social support from family relates to improved quality of life in adults who stutter, independent of stuttering severity. Treatments that increase feelings of self-esteem/self-efficacy and strengthen social support from the family should be considered for individuals who struggle to cope with stuttering in order to enhance their quality of life.

Economic Self‐Help group Programs for Improving Women's Empowerment: A Systematic Review

s screened (n = 3498) Records excluded (n = 3136) Full-text articles assessed for eligibility (n = 362) Full-text articles excluded, with reasons (n = 257) Studies included in qualitative synthesis (n = 11) Studies included in quantitative synthesis (n = 23) Refined screening of remaining 107 full-text articles; 74 excluded with reasons

Women Empowerment through Self-Help Groups – A Case of Two Backward Districts of West Bengal

Empowering women, particularly the poor women belonging to the backward communities residing in backward regions, is considered to be an essential element of economic development of any developing economy. It becomes clear that participation in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) among the women belonging to economically poor and backward communities in the backward and drought-prone areas of rural West Bengal in India can become an important tool for uplifting their socio-economic status. This process can definitely empower them in making correct socio-economic decisions in both within and outside the household activities.

Effectiveness of Behavior Change Communications for Reducing Transmission Risks Among People Living with HIV in 6 Countries in Central America.

This first region-wide study (N = 2,818) aims to estimate prevalence of HIV-related risks (sexual behavior, HIV disclosure, number of sex partners, violence) and factors associated with these risks as well as evaluate a behavior change communications program targeted to PLHIV in 6 countries in Central America. After 2 years, the program achieved moderate coverage, with 21 % of the sample reporting exposure to interpersonal communications (IPC) and 52 % to mass media program components. The odds of condom use, HIV disclosure, and participation in a self-help group increased by 1.4–1.8 times with exposure to mass media. Exposure to IPC increased odds of condom use by 2.7 and participation in self-help groups by 4.4 times. In addition, being in HIV care or taking ART was associated with condom use and HIV-status disclosure. About 30 % experienced physical or sexual violence, and those who did were 4 times less likely to use condoms. Findings suggest that behavioral interventions for PLHIV can reduce HIV-transmission risks and increase access to care.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10461-014-0910-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

12 Steps for Best Practices in Referral to Mutual Self-Help Groups

While membership is completely voluntary, mutual self-help group participation represents a significant portion of the de facto system of care for substance use disorders in the United States. Clinicians who treat patients with substance use disorders often refer patients to Mutual Self Help Groups (MSHG) and are met with resistance by patients who do not engage in MSHG involvement. A brief historical overview of the original 12-step program, Alcoholics Anonymous, will be provided as well as subsequent derivatives of this program. In addition, this paper will, summarize the existing literature concerning attendance at mutual self-help groups and outcomes, and make recommendations about “best practices” for clinicians contemplating referral. This discussion will be limited to mutual self-help groups that address substance use disorders (AA, NA, CA, etc.), both 12-step and non-12 step.

Microfinance, vulnerability and risk in low income households

We investigate if participation in the Indian Self Help Group (SHG) program results in reducing poverty and vulnerability. The theoretical framework examines the mechanisms through which the pecuniary and non-pecuniary effects of the SHG impacts the households’ ability to manage risk. We use a vulnerability measure that quantifies the welfare loss associated with poverty and different types of risks, on an Indian panel survey data. Our results show that SHG members are less vulnerable compared with a group of non-SHG (control) members. About 80% of the vulnerability faced by the households is poverty related.