1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of social networks, specific respect to cohesion, on the help-seeking process and on the sustained use of resources before psychiatric hospitalization.» (p. 405)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
80 psychiatric outpatients of the Louis-H. Lafontaine Psychiatric Hospital

Instruments :
Guide d’entrevue
Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique et analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«This study analyzed the relationship between social network dynamics and initial help-seeking behaviors. The primary social network was reconstructed for the period beginning with initial observation of unusual behavior and ending with first psychiatric hospitalization. The social network’s influence was analyzed based on the concept of social network cohesion, considering both structure and content of social ties. Subjects were 80 psychiatric outpatients and their family members. The results demonstrate that networks succeed in referring the family member to services and in maintaining a clinical follow-up to the degree that they are cohesive. When a network lacks cohesiveness, the onset and development of problem behaviors are less easily recognized. These findings confirm the importance of social and interactional contexts in decision-making processes leading to use of psychiatric services and speck the roles they play.» (p. 404)