Browsing by Subject "peer support"
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Item Embargo Describing Working Alliance Longitudinally in a Peer Support Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults with Chronic Illness(2023) Brotkin, SamuelPeer support is one theoretically grounded and developmentally informed approach to support the unique psychosocial challenges faced by adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with childhood onset chronic conditions (COCCs). Working alliance is presented as one well-established construct to understand the underlying mechanisms of peer support in this population. This exploratory study sought to describe the working alliance trajectory in a peer support intervention for AYAs with a COCC.
The present study was a substudy of a randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of a one-to-one telephone-based peer coaching intervention for AYAs with a COCC designed to promote self-management and patient activation. The present study aimed to describe the working alliance trajectory from the perspective of the AYA over the first four coaching sessions and to examine AYA, peer coach, and dyadic characteristics (gender, age, race, COCC category) that influence the working alliance trajectory. This study also utilized qualitative analyses to describe core aspects of the AYA-peer coach relationship over time. AYAs completed a self-report measure to assess their perceived working alliance following the first four peer coaching sessions. For 32 AYA-peer coach dyads, linear random coefficient regression models for longitudinal data were conducted to describe the trajectory of overall working alliance across the first four coaching sessions. AYAs perceived a strong working alliance in the first peer coaching session, which was maintained across three subsequent sessions. There were no significant differences in working alliance trajectory across AYA, peer coach, and dyadic characteristics. Although not significantly significant, a trend emerged in which AYAs and peer coaches with the same COCC had a decrease in working alliance over time, while AYAs and peer coaches with a different COCC had an increase in working alliance over time. Qualitative findings revealed themes describing peer coach skills consistent with the working alliance construct (warmth/empathy/genuineness, alignment with AYA’s goals) as well as the ability to integrate similar experiences to build a trusting relationship and provide support, which may be unique to the peer relationship. Findings from the present study serve as a foundation for future efforts to capture the underlying mechanisms of peer support for AYAs with a COCC, which can inform the design of research and clinical programming that effectively leverage peer support to promote outcomes.
Item Open Access Developing a Sustainable Model of Text-Delivered Peer Support for Undergraduate Mental Health(2023) Erwin, SavannahThere is increased need for mental health support on college campuses: existing campus resources are increasingly unable to meet the mental health needs of their undergraduate communities. There is also increased preference from students for some forms of emotional support to come from peers. Peer support programs, in which students act as supportive listeners towards their fellow students, are increasingly common on college campuses, but the uptake and utility of these programs is not routinely examined. There is also a need to ensure that the mental health of students providing support is protected. Providing support for peers can be a positive source of meaning and life purpose, but also a source of perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and, potentially, burnout. If such programs are to be developed and disseminated, it is critical to understand the mechanisms whereby communicating with a peer in a moment of distress can improve mental health outcomes. This dissertation aims to address the critical need of identifying key components for sustainability by providing an updated review of the prevalence and nature of existing undergraduate peer support programs (Study 1), synthesizing research on the impact of providing peer mental health support (Study 2), and evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of a novel text-based peer support program with a sample of undergraduates (Study 3). We found that approximately 10% of institutions affiliated with the American College Health Association have a peer program dedicated to supporting student mental health. Moreover, there has been a recent surge of interest in these programs: over 50% of programs identified were founded in the last 10 years. However, there is limited data collection and even less peer-reviewed research on the impact of these programs for the students receiving and providing support. DukeLine, an innovative text-based peer support program, was designed, implemented, and assessed for sustainability. Peer coaches were trained through a for-credit, semester-long course taught within the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and committed to providing peer support in two-person shifts for two semesters while enrolled in a practicum course with weekly group supervision. No coach reported experiencing significant emotional exhaustion and, on average, coaches report deriving moderate levels of meaning and purpose from their role as a peer coach. Over a quarter (29.73%) of students who reached out to DukeLine for support did so more than once and 88.89% of texters reported feeling extremely satisfied with the support they received. DukeLine offers a sustainable model for peer support programs targeting undergraduate mental health that is acceptable and feasible, for students who seek and provide support.
Item Embargo Feasibility of Kanasina Gulabi, a Pilot Peer Support Intervention for Young Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Mysore District, South India(2024) Gopisetty, Nikhita RaniBackground: The global rise in early-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D) is impacting the lives of millions of young individuals around the world. To address the knowledge gap and emotional burden in young adults with T2D, the research team designed a four-week education and goal-based peer support intervention, Kanasina Gulabi (Kannada: My Dream Rose), implemented in Mysore, India between June and July 2023. Methods: The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to assess feasibility. Peer navigators (n=3, mean age: 33 years) were recruited from the community and trained to deliver the intervention. Twenty-eight adults ≤ 40 years of age with T2D were recruited and quasi-randomly allocated to the intervention group (n=14, mean age: 33 years) or the control group (n=14, mean age: 33 years). Hemoglobin A1c, T2D knowledge, diabetes distress, diabetes-related stigma, depression severity, and optimism were assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 2-month follow-up. Attendance, fidelity, and acceptability were also assessed. Results: Intervention participants expressed high satisfaction with Kanasina Gulabi and gratitude for the guided knowledge and mentorship from their peer navigators. Participants displayed excellent attendance and adherence, with an average of 5 hours of Kanasina Gulabi exposure over 4 weeks. Peer navigators delivered the intervention with 100% fidelity. Results immediately following the intervention showed reductions in diabetes distress (Intervention: 30.9%, Control: 6.5%), diabetes-related stigma (Intervention: 25.3%, Control: 14.5%), and depression severity (Intervention: 58.3%, Control: 38.5%). Both groups presented an increase in T2D knowledge (Intervention: 19.7%, Control: 25.2%). Conclusion: Implementing Kanasina Gulabi in Mysore is feasible and acceptable, with intervention participants showing more positive changes on multiple psychosocial outcomes compared to the control group. Results support a full trial to evaluate its effectiveness and sustainability in young adults with T2D.