title: Factors contributing to the survival of self-help groups.
abstract: Despite the growing utilization of self-help groups, there have been only a handful of studies that have examined the factors that contribute to their survival. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that contribute to self-help group survival by examining their relationship with external sources (i.e., national and local self-help organizations, professionals) and group organizational characteristics (i.e., leadership diversification, recruitment, attendance at group meetings). Representatives from 245 active and 94 recently disbanded self-help groups were included in the analysis. Results indicated that the primary factors that discriminated between active and disbanded groups were the number of new people to attend a meeting, average group meeting attendance, length of existence, leadership diversification, outreach to potential group members, and support from national and local organizations. Results are discussed in terms of what national self-help organizations, self-help clearinghouses, and others who interact with self-help groups can do to empower and support them.
authors.affiliation: Self-Help Network of Kansas, Wichita State University, 67260-0034, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wituk
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meissen
mesh_terms: D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D006290:Health Planning Technical Assistance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D007857:Leadership; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies