Self-Help and Mutual Aid Groups

<p>Here is new information on the development of international and intercultural research on self-help groups. This book reflects the many developments which have occurred in the field over the past decade emphasizing empirical research. Self-Help and Mutual Aid Groups provides specific research findings and honed concepts to help health professionals learn more about self-help groups and work effectively with such groups. More countries and ethnic groups are now involved in the self-help movement and this volume increases knowledge of how different cultures react to and participate in self-help mutual aid and how self-help groups can be adapted to fit different racial or ethnic populations. Self-Help and Mutual Aid Groups explores the definition of self-help the centrality of culture as a major factor explaining variability in self-help the development of appropriate methodological tools and the role and involvement of professionals. It brings together different traditions of research for the study of cross- and intercultural and inter- and intraorganizational aspects of self-help groups. Contributors who represent various disciplines including psychology sociology social work and nursing discuss:</p><ul> <li>a paradigm for research in self-help </li> <li>the development of self-help groups in Japan Hong Kong and the former East Germany </li> <li>the participation of blacks in Alcoholics Anonymous </li> <li>the participation of Mexican Americans in groups for parents of the mentally ill </li> <li>relationships between self-help groups and health professionals </li> <li>predictors of burnout in self-help group leaders </li> <li>characteristics of effective groups </li> <li>ways individuals change their world view through self-help participationSelf-Help and Mutual Aid Groups is an informative and helpful resource for self-help researchers and teachers students and professionals who want to be more effective in their work with self-help groups across cultural and national lines.</li> </ul>