Wright Abigail C, Kritikos Katherine, Bhiku Kamila, LeFeber Lisa, Skiest Hannah, Whitman Anne, Browne Julia, Arntz Diana, Fortuna Karen L, Mueser Kim T, Cather Corinne
Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College.
Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2022 Sep;45(3):201-211. doi: 10.1037/prj0000517. Epub 2022 May 5.
Individuals with mental health challenges are at particularly high risk of experiencing negative outcomes (e.g., worsening of mental health, increased risk of mortality) due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Peer specialists may have the benefit of several protective factors, including higher levels of social support and better illness self-management skills that buffer against negative effects of the pandemic. In this study, we compared the differences in the impact of COVID-19 on those trained as peer specialists (e.g., certified peer specialists, recovery coaches) to those not trained in this role.
Participants with self-reported mental health and/or substance use challenges completed an online survey to collect information on their experiences during COVID-19 (Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory [EPII]), loneliness (3-item Loneliness Scale), and access to and satisfaction with mental health support. Respondents self-identified as peer specialists or not.
One hundred seventy-three U.S. resident participants from 23 states were included in the final analysis: 109 were peer specialists and 64 were nonpeer specialists. Those who were trained as peer specialists reported fewer negative outcomes during the pandemic, including less disruption in employment, less loneliness, and less worsening of mental health, while reporting more positive attitudes in the face of difficulties. Peer specialists were also likely to report more access to and satisfaction with mental health services.
Possibly as a function of their role, peer specialists reported better mental health outcomes during COVID-19, providing key, empirical evidence to support the benefits of helping others. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
患有心理健康问题的个体因冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行而面临出现负面结果（如心理健康恶化、死亡风险增加）的特别高风险。同伴专家可能受益于多种保护因素，包括更高水平的社会支持和更好的疾病自我管理技能，这些因素可缓冲大流行的负面影响。在本研究中，我们比较了COVID-19对接受过同伴专家培训（如认证同伴专家、康复教练）的人与未接受过该角色培训的人的影响差异。
自我报告有心理健康和/或物质使用问题的参与者完成了一项在线调查，以收集他们在COVID-19期间的经历（疫情-大流行影响量表[EPII]）、孤独感（3项孤独感量表）以及获得心理健康支持的情况和满意度。受访者自我认定是否为同伴专家。
来自23个州的173名美国居民参与者被纳入最终分析：109名是同伴专家，64名是非同伴专家。接受过同伴专家培训的人报告在大流行期间负面结果较少，包括就业干扰较少、孤独感较少以及心理健康恶化较少，同时在面对困难时报告有更积极的态度。同伴专家也可能报告获得更多心理健康服务并对其更满意。
同伴专家可能因其角色的作用，在COVID-19期间报告了更好的心理健康结果，提供了关键的实证证据来支持帮助他人的益处。（PsycInfo数据库记录（c）2022美国心理学会，保留所有权利）
