Joining, belonging, and re-valuing : a process of meaning-making through group participation in a mental health lifestyle intervention
Lund, Kristine LU ; Argentzell, Elisabeth LU ; Leufstadius, Christel LU
; Tjörnstrand, Carina
LU
and Eklund, Mona
LU
(2019)
In Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
26(1).
p.55-68
- Abstract
Background: Balancing Everyday Life (BEL), a new group-based intervention for mental health service users, was implemented in Sweden. Mental health service users often experience group interventions as meaningful, but knowledge of the process of meaning-making in a group is lacking. Aim: To explore participants’ perceptions of the group in the Balancing Everyday Life (BEL) lifestyle intervention; specifically, personal experiences of what brings meaning when participating in a group. Methods: This qualitative Grounded Theory study included 26 interviews with 19 BEL participants. Results: A process of meaning-making in a group was constructed: Joining with others: from feeling alone to connected, A sense of belonging: mutual support and... (More)
Background: Balancing Everyday Life (BEL), a new group-based intervention for mental health service users, was implemented in Sweden. Mental health service users often experience group interventions as meaningful, but knowledge of the process of meaning-making in a group is lacking. Aim: To explore participants’ perceptions of the group in the Balancing Everyday Life (BEL) lifestyle intervention; specifically, personal experiences of what brings meaning when participating in a group. Methods: This qualitative Grounded Theory study included 26 interviews with 19 BEL participants. Results: A process of meaning-making in a group was constructed: Joining with others: from feeling alone to connected, A sense of belonging: mutual support and understanding, and Re-valuing Self: respect and self-worth. No longer feeling alone contributed to meaning. Peers and group leaders were considered important parts of the group, and participants appreciated feeling understood, respected, and helping others. Conclusion: The proposed process of meaning-making, as well as ‘Joining’ as a unique step, seems to be new contributions which could help practitioners when organizing groups. Overcoming fear of joining could break a cycle of isolation and lead to connecting and belonging. The value of participants finding purpose through helping others should be further explored.
(Less)
- author
- Lund, Kristine
LU
; Argentzell, Elisabeth
LU
; Leufstadius, Christel
LU
; Tjörnstrand, Carina
LU
and Eklund, Mona
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2019
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- grounded theory, group intervention, groups, lifestyle, meaning, mental health, Mental illness, occupational therapy
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 13 pages
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85035104091
- pmid:29179630
- ISSN
- 1103-8128
- DOI
- 10.1080/11038128.2017.1409266
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 8ee07566-9b63-4afe-a567-ace97c667c30
- date added to LUP
- 2017-12-12 12:47:49
- date last changed
- 2024-04-14 21:30:36
@article{8ee07566-9b63-4afe-a567-ace97c667c30,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Balancing Everyday Life (BEL), a new group-based intervention for mental health service users, was implemented in Sweden. Mental health service users often experience group interventions as meaningful, but knowledge of the process of meaning-making in a group is lacking. Aim: To explore participants’ perceptions of the group in the Balancing Everyday Life (BEL) lifestyle intervention; specifically, personal experiences of what brings meaning when participating in a group. Methods: This qualitative Grounded Theory study included 26 interviews with 19 BEL participants. Results: A process of meaning-making in a group was constructed: Joining with others: from feeling alone to connected, A sense of belonging: mutual support and understanding, and Re-valuing Self: respect and self-worth. No longer feeling alone contributed to meaning. Peers and group leaders were considered important parts of the group, and participants appreciated feeling understood, respected, and helping others. Conclusion: The proposed process of meaning-making, as well as ‘Joining’ as a unique step, seems to be new contributions which could help practitioners when organizing groups. Overcoming fear of joining could break a cycle of isolation and lead to connecting and belonging. The value of participants finding purpose through helping others should be further explored.</p>}},
author = {{Lund, Kristine and Argentzell, Elisabeth and Leufstadius, Christel and Tjörnstrand, Carina and Eklund, Mona}},
issn = {{1103-8128}},
keywords = {{grounded theory; group intervention; groups; lifestyle; meaning; mental health; Mental illness; occupational therapy}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{55--68}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy}},
title = {{Joining, belonging, and re-valuing : a process of meaning-making through group participation in a mental health lifestyle intervention}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2017.1409266}},
doi = {{10.1080/11038128.2017.1409266}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2019}},
}