Social support and learning in preventive health care

This paper analyzes social learning processes in mutual support groups that were developed to facilitate clients' understanding of cardiovascular diseases and their responsibilities for health maintenance. It is based upon a 3-year study of supportive health care in a community of low-income Black and Latino families in south-central Los Angeles, California. Participant-observation and small group research have been employed to understand the learning styles that help chronically ill clients to identity their roles and thereby reduce the anxiety and uncertainty that often accompany a therapeutic regimen.