title: The healing balm effect: using a walking group to feel better.
abstract: This qualitative study combines methods from grounded theory and ethnography, exploring members' experience of a mental health day service walking group, with regards psychological benefits of the physical activity, the outdoor environment and the social setting. Data were collected via participant observation, interviews and a group discussion, and analysed using a grounded theory approach. An overall model, the Healing Balm Effect, brings together seven categories, which describe healing properties of the experience. The categories are: Closer to What is More Natural; Feeling Safe; Being Part; Striving; Getting Away; Being Me; Finding Meaning. Clinical relevance and methodological issues are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK. pennypriest@supanet.com
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Priest
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D006113:United Kingdom; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*