This qualitative study explores instrumental aid as social support in family crises. Focus group interviews were conducted with six groups of women to explore their thoughts and feelings about giving and receiving instrumental aid. Women gave many examples of instrumental aid, stating it was important, but only helpful if it met a recognized need. Mutual definition of need appears to be negotiated informally within group or family memberships, as well as more formally using society's manners and customs. Individual and community resources were mentioned frequently. Affirmation of one's perceptions of an event also contributes to definition of a need. Social support is an interactive process; several women gave examples of a "state of shock" following a death and other circumstances that left a person unable to acknowledge aid.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/277255 |
| Date | January 1990 |
| Creators | Casteel, Susan Kay Flanigan |
| Contributors | Phillips, Linda R. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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