Tools
Tools
Lee, Daren (2022) Are we losing connection?: experiences of online peer-based recovery support groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.
Aim:
The current research aimed to explore the experiences of individuals attending online peer-based recovery support groups for alcohol use while their face-to-face groups were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging evidence suggests that the pandemic and concomitant isolation has led to elevated mental health problems. Furthermore, historical community-wide crises are associated with increases in alcohol consumption.
Rationale:
Due to the paucity of qualitative research on the subjective experience of peer-based recovery support groups, an interpretative phenomenological analysis was undertaken to explore group members' experiences.
Methods:
A sample of six eligible members of online alcohol peer-based recovery support groups were recruited and completed semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify superordinate, subordinate themes and evidenced with salient quotations.
Findings:
Three superordinate themes were identified: responses to the disruption to group provision in lockdown; differences between face-to-face and online group proceedings and lost, gained and evolving opportunities. Reported differences between online groups and face-to-face equivalents were nuanced. Some participants missed face-to-face group meetings, noting their intimacy, wider recovery opportunities and supportive endings. However, some participants valued the increased control and anonymity of online groups and anticipated that the COVID-19 pandemic would be a catalyst for change in recovery services.
Conclusions and recommendations:
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a context of opportunity to review service provision for individuals seeking support for alcohol use. Barriers to recovery service engagement exist across face-to-face and online modalities. With the anticipated increased availability of online service provision as an alternative or adjunct to face-to-face interventions, it is recommended that the planning and design of future recovery provision are informed by the voice of service-users to develop a greater sensitivity to the nuances of individuals' P-BRS group experiences. The current study presents key recommendations, including: that services are receptive to individuals' willingness to share in groups and note that this can be facilitated online; identifies the need to develop a protocol that offers greater support during online meeting endings; encourages group members to live recovery by contributing to their recovery communities, either in-person or through alternative remote means; endorses guidance and transparency about the potential differences between f2f and online groups and highlights the potential benefits of attending online international groups, by experiencing a sense of universal recovery identity.
 |
View Item |