The primary group as supportive milieu: applications to community psychology

The paper reviews evidence documenting the health-protective effects of the informal social support extended by kith, kin, and community gatekeepers. Noteworthy features of a classification scheme describing the substance of informal helping behaviors are reviewed. Implications for future research and action address: (a) the need for professionals to reexamine occasions for the provision of consultation and crisis-intervention services; (b) the potential for using social network analysis to identify vulnerable groups in the community; (c) the merits of advocating on behalf of informal support systems as favorable settings for the accomplishment of primary prevention.