Evaluation of a community-based system for training natural helpers. II. Effects on informal helping activities

A set of 37 rural "natural helpers" chose to become involved in a community-based program of training to enhance their helping skills. Data were collected on the following dimensions of the helpers' informal helping activities: number of helping interactions, different persons helped, relationship to helpee, length of helping contact, location, types of helpee problems, kinds of helping behaviors used, and helper-perceived confidence, helpfulness, and satisfaction. Comparison of helpers' reports on these dimensions prior to and after training showed these changes: (a) a greater proportion of interaction with spouses, (b) more interaction in helpees' homes, and (c) more confidence in helping. Comparisons of changes between helpers who acquired specific helping skills and those who did not gave indeterminant results. Helpers' reports of their community behaviors were not congruent with direct observations of their behavior in evaluation sessions.