Related Experiment Videos
Whom do mutual-help groups help? A typology of members
1Department of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|November 1, 1988
Summary
Members join mutual-help organizations like GROW for diverse reasons, including symptom relief, community, trauma recovery, bereavement support, or helping others. These varied needs can create conflicting support dynamics within groups.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Community Health
Background:
- Mutual-help organizations, like GROW, were initially founded for mental health rehabilitation.
- GROW now serves a broader membership, including individuals without prior mental illness treatment.
- Understanding member motivations is crucial for organizational effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diverse reasons individuals join the GROW mutual-help organization.
- To explore members' perceptions of GROW's effectiveness in meeting their needs.
- To identify distinct member typologies within GROW.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 1,677 GROW members.
- Cluster analysis to identify member groups based on motivations and needs.
- Analysis of perceived organizational effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Five distinct member groups were identified within GROW.
- Motivations included symptom relief, community seeking, trauma recovery, bereavement support, and altruism.
- Potential for conflicting support needs: facilitative (change-oriented) versus palliative (stability-oriented).
Conclusions:
- GROW serves a heterogeneous membership with varied needs and motivations.
- Different member groups may require distinct types of social support.
- The diversity of needs may present challenges for mutual-help organizations in providing universally effective support.