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.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*