Hardiman Eric R, Segal Steven P
University at Albany, State University of New York, School of Social Welfare, 135 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12222, USA.
Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2003 Summer;27(1):25-33. doi: 10.2975/27.2003.25.33.
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.
本文探讨了自助机构（SHA）参与者中的社区归属感。研究表明，自助机构促进了以同伴为导向的社交网络的增强，从而带来共享社区的体验。社会网络分析被用于检验支持机制的结构，并通过同伴融入来评估社区归属感的水平。结果表明，个人和组织特征在预测社交网络中同伴的存在方面都发挥着作用。组织赋权是一个关键因素，自助机构通过增强社交网络成为同伴支持发展的一个有前景的场所。文中还讨论了对基于消费者的服务组织的启示。
