Social support in self-help groups, as experienced by persons having coronary heart disease and their next of kin

Self-help groups related to coronary heart disease constitute a network for support in which the members of the group have the opportunity both to receive and provide social support. The purpose of this study was to reach in-depth information from group members about lived experience of social support in a self-help group. A qualitative research method influenced by phenomenology was used and the findings showed a pattern of social support that can be described as a sharing of experience among confident equals, thanks to mutual feelings of caring and belonging, which in turn strengthens confidence. The group members' experience of social support show that the group constitutes a cornerstone in a network for support and contributes to well-being, coping ability and a build up of confidence at the prospect of a more promising future.