I fattori di efficacia nei gruppi di auto-aiuto

In the self-help group literature there are plenty of works which offer different hypothesis of the mechanisms that facilitate change among group members. There are however relatevely few empirical studies which have explored which characteristics of self-help groups are perceived as most useful by group members. The aim of this study was to ascertain which factors among the most widely cited in the literature as promoting the efficacy of self-help groups were considered important by members of self-help groups. About 560 men and women, aged from 17 to 70, members of a variety of self-help groups (groups for people who suffered from drug or alcool addiction, groups of relatives of people with addiction problems, groups of patients who suffered from a chronic disease and groups of relatives of people with chronic illnesses, ecc.) filled up a scale made up of 18 items, each of which described a factor of efficacy of self-.help group mentioned in the literature. Each selfhelp group member was asked to rate how important that factor had been in promoting change among group members. Through factor analysis (ACP) four factors were identified: 1) Taking responsability for personal behavior 2) Identification with other groups members 3) Exchange of information and advice, 4) Making friends. Implications for increasing the efficacy of self-help groups are discussed and directions for future research are proposed.