Nicole Letourneau, Carrie McManus, Jason Novick, Andrea Silverstone
{"title":"Impacts of Peer Support on Coping and Cortisol Levels for Women Affected by Domestic Violence and Coercive Control.","authors":"Nicole Letourneau, Carrie McManus, Jason Novick, Andrea Silverstone","doi":"10.1177/08445621241272723","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Gendered domestic violence and coercive control are prevalent public heath concerns in Canada with dire consequences for survivors. Peer support groups may address and reduce negative impacts of domestic violence and coercive control on women's stress, coping, safety, and alliances with social support network members, the focus of this study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A one-group, pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Growth Circle, a 14-week peer support program offered at an agency serving women affected by domestic violence in a major western Canadian city. Through convenience sampling, women 18 years and older who experienced domestic violence were recruited and provided data on stress, coping, safety-related empowerment, and social support/alliances. Thirty-five participants provided all pre-test and post-test data, with a subsample of 14 providing repeated hair samples. Hair was employed to determine stress hormone (cortisol) levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A significant reduction in self-reported levels of perceived stress and stress hormone levels following completion of the Growth Circle program was revealed. Participants also reported a significant increase in safety-related empowerment, and supportive alliances with group members.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Growth Circle peer support program was demonstrated to be effective. Further implementation and research into the Growth Circle program across Canada is recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":46661,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Nursing Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Canadian Journal of Nursing Research","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/08445621241272723","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/8/16 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Gendered domestic violence and coercive control are prevalent public heath concerns in Canada with dire consequences for survivors. Peer support groups may address and reduce negative impacts of domestic violence and coercive control on women's stress, coping, safety, and alliances with social support network members, the focus of this study.
Methods: A one-group, pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Growth Circle, a 14-week peer support program offered at an agency serving women affected by domestic violence in a major western Canadian city. Through convenience sampling, women 18 years and older who experienced domestic violence were recruited and provided data on stress, coping, safety-related empowerment, and social support/alliances. Thirty-five participants provided all pre-test and post-test data, with a subsample of 14 providing repeated hair samples. Hair was employed to determine stress hormone (cortisol) levels.
Results: A significant reduction in self-reported levels of perceived stress and stress hormone levels following completion of the Growth Circle program was revealed. Participants also reported a significant increase in safety-related empowerment, and supportive alliances with group members.
Conclusions: The Growth Circle peer support program was demonstrated to be effective. Further implementation and research into the Growth Circle program across Canada is recommended.
期刊介绍:
We are pleased to announce the launch of the CJNR digital archive, an online archive available through the McGill University Library, and hosted by the McGill University Library Digital Collections Program in perpetuity. This archive has been made possible through a Richard M. Tomlinson Digital Library Innovation and Access Award to the McGill School of Nursing. The Richard M. Tomlinson award recognizes the ongoing contribution and commitment the CJNR has made to the McGill School of Nursing, and to the development and nursing science in Canada and worldwide. We hope this archive proves to be an invaluable research tool for researchers in Nursing and other faculties.