christian counseling today
Vol. 20 no. 4
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The greater the difference (in the mind
of the participant) between the “recov-
ering addict” identity and the “addict”
identity, the more likely they were to
report a decrease in appetitive behavior.
This seems to support prior research in
which “one’s perception of being part
of a group promotes identification with
similar others” and access to “peer sup-
port and learning vicariously from other
group members’ experiences” (p. 5). It
is not just an identity, however: “The
preference for an identity, compared to
a previously known identity, and the
evaluative differentiation between iden-
tities that were related to self-efficacy
and positive health outcomes” (p. 5).
Study 2 looked to replicate the first
study with a population of people who
were quitting smoking. It used the des-
ignation of “smoker” and “ex-smoker.”
The results of Study 2 provided addi-
tional support for the idea that evalua-
tive differences and identity preferences
(as “ex-smokers”) are related to positive
health outcomes. That preference for
identity was associated with self-efficacy,
which was related to less relapse and
appetitive behavior.
These studies are fascinating, in
part, because they tap into the role of
identity-related processes among people
attempting recovery. By identifying with
others who are making similar attempts,
and by contrasting their shared identity
with that of another group, there is a
sense of self-efficacy that can contribute
to positive health outcomes.
Women with Postpartum
Depression
Anderson, L.N. (2013). Functions of Support
Group Communication for Women with
Postpartum Depression: How Support Groups
Silence and Encourage Voices of Motherhood.
Journal of Community Psychology
, 41 (6), 709-
724. Doi: 10.1002/jcop.21566.
LaKesha Anderson of Indiana State
University conducted a phenomeno-
logical study of 27 women who partici-
pated in one of three kinds of groups.
The women were all aged 18 or older
and had given birth. Most (N = 23) of
the participants self-identified as having
symptoms similar to those seen in post-
partum depression. The groupings were:
(1) experiencing postpartum depression
and participating in a support group;
(2) experiencing postpartum depression,
but not in a support group; and (3) not
experiencing postpartum depression, but
attending a support group.
Anderson conducted interviews
that allowed participants to elaborate
on their experiences of postpartum
depression. A main finding was the
importance of receiving support from
others who had similar experiences. The
mothers reported different kinds of sup-
port: informational (“related to advice
giving”), emotional (“fosters feelings of
care, love, and security”), and tangible
(“receiving aid from others to help solve
practical problems”) (p. 715).
Participants mentioned three differ-
ent kinds of support group involvement:
local mothers’ groups, working mothers’
groups, and postpartum depression sup-
port groups. Different groups provided
different experiences with support.
Mothers who were in a local mothers’
group experienced social outlets and
tangible expressions of support. They
enjoyed connecting with other moth-
ers. Women who attended the work-
ing mothers’ groups benefitted from
pragmatic support—tangible expressions
of support, information, and solutions.
Unfortunately, for women with postpar-
tum depression, these kinds of groups
did not tend to facilitate discussion of
those unique experiences. Women in
the postpartum support groups benefit-
ted from being with others who faced
similar circumstances and experiences.
There was comfort and validation found
in these groups.
