The efficacy of a facilitated support group intervention to reduce the psychological distress of individuals experiencing family estrangement

Blake, Lucy; Bland, Becca; Gilbert, Helen

Abstract

Background: Stand Alone is a charity operating in the United Kingdom that supports adults who are estranged from a family member. The charity recognises that those who experience estrangement from a family member experience sadness, anger and a sense of loss. Due to stigma, they rarely disclose their experiences of estrangement to others. Objective: To assess the efficacy of a six-session facilitated support group intervention for individuals experiencing family estrangement in reducing psychological distress. Methods: Attendees (N = 263) completed the CORE-10 questionnaire assessing psychological distress at registration and at completion of the groups. They also completed a brief survey at each time-point, including an open-ended question about how they felt the support groups had impacted their wellbeing (N = 51). Results: Attendees experienced a statistically significant reduction in psychological distress, with average scores of distress falling from moderate levels of distress to mild. After attending the groups, attendees felt less alone and less ashamed. Conclusion: Six-week facilitated support groups are an effective way of reducing psychological distress for individuals experiencing estrangement from a family member, helping attendees feel less alone and ashamed. Practice implications: Through facilitated support group intervention, it is possible to reduce the psychological distress of those individuals experiencing family estrangement.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 8, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2022
• Publication Date: Sep 12, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 13, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 13, 2022
• Journal: Evaluation and Program Planning
• Print ISSN: 0149-7189
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 95
• Pages: 102168
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102168
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Strategy and Management; Geography, Planning and Development; Social Psychology; Business and International Management
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9973857
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: The efficacy of a facilitated support group intervention to reduce the psychological distress of individuals experiencing family estrangement; Journal Title: Evaluation and Program Planning; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102168; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.