[Social factors influencing participation in self-help groups or organisations--results from selected questions for the health monitor].
OBJECTIVE
Using selected data collected by the Health Monitor (Bertelsmann-Stiftung) from 1,539 adults aged between 18 and 79 years this article describes which social factors have an impact on participation in self-help groups or organisations. Furthermore, questions about the length of participation, fields of self-help activity, and their usefulness were analysed.


METHODS
All participants were approached in written form. The questionnaire included 103 health-related items (6 about self-help), and 15 demographic characteristics. The sample was weighted statistically by federal state, sex and age.


RESULTS
4.1% stated to be a member of self-help organisations for chronically ill or disabled people. On the whole, 9.1% have participated in self-help activities during their lifetime (currently active: 2.8%). Membership in self-help organisations increases with age, social class and according to personal involvement, whereas participation in self-help groups is quite different. The rate of participation of women is nearly twice as high as that of men (11.1 versus 6.9%). Generally, participation in self-help groups was also rated positively, but assessments vary with social class and the length of using them.


CONCLUSIONS
Particularly with regard to the distribution of self-help participants depending on social class there are some discrepancies to other studies. These differences can supposedly be ascribed to methodical factors (e. g., social class index, sample size).
Trojan
A
A
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Institut für Medizin-Soziologie, Hamburg.
Nickel
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S
Amhof
R
R
Böcken
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires