title: Identifying themes regarding the benefits and limitations of caregiver support group conversations.
abstract: Support groups continue to be one of the most needed and desired forms of help for family caregivers to persons with dementia. Though the effects of caregiver support group participation have been examined, the benefits and limitations of the dynamics of support group conversations have been neglected. This study focuses on the perceived consequences of group dynamics. Three themes-balance, sameness, and individuality-emerged through analysis of open-ended interviews with support group members following observations of their meetings. The consequences of these themes are illustrated with a case study and the implications of these themes for practitioners are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Communication Studies Department, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California 94132, USA. mgolden@sfsu.edu
authors.forename: Mindi Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Golden
authors.forename: Dale A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lund
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*