title: Community membership and social networks in mental health self-help agencies.
abstract: This article explores community membership among self-help agency (SHA) participants. It is suggested that SHAs foster the enhancement of peer-oriented social networks, leading to the experience of shared community. Social network analysis was used to examine the structure of support mechanisms, and to assess levels of community membership through peer inclusion. Results indicate that both individual and organizational characteristics play roles in predicting peer presence in social networks. Organizational empowerment is a key factor, with the SHA emerging as a promising locus for peer support development through enhanced social networks. Implications for the organization of consumer-based services are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University at Albany, State University of New York, School of Social Welfare, 135 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12222, USA. hardiman@albany.edu
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Hardiman
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Segal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010379:Peer Group; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States