Objectives are to continue and expand a series of studies on self-help groups addressing such questions as: what are the origins growth patterns of such organizations, how are they legitimized as helping source, what kinds of needs do they serve, for whom and under what conditions; what change induction characteristics are effective; how effective are they in helping? 5000 participants and controls are currently being studied. The participants were drawn from 9 self-help organizations who were distressed by child loss, widowhood and normative transitions, physical health problems and discharged mental hospital patients. Methods of study included: ethnographic observations at chapter and national levels; interviews with founders and key members and a subsample of the 5000 survey participants based on inductively generated typologies of reasons for affiliation and type of outcome. Three surveys were used: one addressing the person and their change based on one year follow-up design; the other a survey of 25 chapters from each of the 9 self-help systems to examine a variety of hypotheses regarding group conditions inducing change; and a third examining long term change (3 years). Outcome framework based on a tripartite model -- client, system and social functioning. Matrix for assessing change includes use of large normative sample as a context, comparing effects of changes under life crises and transitions to change intentionally brought about. A second line of inquiry, looking at systematic psychological changes during the adult life cycle initiated by crises, transitions, and """"""""developmentally"""""""" linked processes is included. Conceptually, series of longitudinal studies -- """"""""Transitions,"""""""" """"""""Ethnic,"""""""" and """"""""Survival"""""""" bridge stress-adaptation and developmental perspectives. Examined are the sources of stress, stress mediators and adaptation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Award (K05)
Project #
5K05MH020342-11
Application #
3076038
Study Section
Research Scientist Development Review Committee (MHK)
Project Start
1983-09-01
Project End
1988-08-31
Budget Start
1986-09-01
Budget End
1987-08-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Type
Hospitals
DUNS #
073133571
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143
Lieberman, M A (1990) A group therapist perspective on self-help groups. Int J Group Psychother 40:251-78
Lieberman, M A (1990) Understanding how groups work: a study of homogeneous peer group failures. Int J Group Psychother 40:31-52
Lieberman, M A; Bliwise, N G (1985) Comparisons among peer and professionally directed groups for the elderly: implications for the development of self-help groups. Int J Group Psychother 35:155-75
Videka-Sherman, L; Lieberman, M (1985) The effects of self-help and psychotherapy intervention on child loss: the limits of recovery. Am J Orthopsychiatry 55:70-82