Applying the Social Norms Approach to Help-Seeking Behavior in the Military

Abstract Background: Alcohol use is part of many cultural, religious and social practices, and provides perceived pleasure to many users. In many societies, alcoholic beverages are a routine part of the social landscape for many in the population. Relatively low rates were reported for Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) in a community-based survey and facility detection survey conducted in the study site contrary to findings in earlier formative studies where alcohol use was reported to be a major health problem. The aim of this study was to understand the reasons for under-reporting and the low detection rate for AUDs, exploring societal perceptions of alcohol use in the study district.Methods: The study was conducted in Kamuli District (implementation site for the PRIME project). Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with purposively selected participants that included local and religious leaders, lay people, health workers as well as heavy alcohol drinkers and their spouses. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The analysis followed four thematic areas, which include the extent and acceptability of alcohol use, patterns of alcohol use, perceived health problems associated with alcohol use and help-seeking behavior for persons with alcohol related problems.Results: The findings indicate that alcohol consumption in the study site was common and widely acceptable across all categories of people and only frowned upon if the person becomes a nuisance to others. These findings suggest that the health problems associated with alcohol use are overlooked except when they are life-threatening. Help-seeking for such problems was therefore reported to be relatively rare.Conclusion: Alcohol was readily available in the community and its consumption widely acceptable, with less social sanctions despite the legal restrictions to the minors. The social acceptance results in low recognition of alcohol use related health problems, consequently resulting in poor help-seeking behavior.

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Children’s Perceptions of the Social Support of Neighborhood Institutions and Establishments

Human Organization ◽

10.17730/humo.64.2.p99qeup9qebu6wv5 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 126-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

James C. Spilsbury

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Networks ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Public Library ◽

Convenience Store ◽

Help Seeking Behavior ◽

The Social ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Public Librarians ◽

Cleveland Ohio

A study of children’s help-seeking behavior in 5 Cleveland, Ohio (USA) neighborhoods revealed the important role played by particular members of neighborhood institutions and establishments not commonly considered in research on children’s social networks: the school crossing guard, the librarian at the local public library branch, and the store owner/clerk at the neighborhood convenience store. These roles—above and beyond their “position descriptions”—ranged from provisioner of winter clothing in the case of crossing guards to mediator of child disputes in the case of public librarians. Moreover, crossing guards, librarians, and store owners/clerks were identi?ed by some children as resources for dealing with bullies. The implications of these unrecognized supportive roles are discussed.

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Trauma Recovery of Greek Women Who Have Experienced Gender-Based Violence: A Narrative Research

Sexes ◽

10.3390/sexes2030021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 256-271

Author(s):

Katerina Lathiotaki ◽

Kleio Koutra ◽

Nikoleta Ratsika ◽

Denise Saint Arnault

Keyword(s):

Help Seeking ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Trauma Recovery ◽

Help Seeking Behavior ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

The Social ◽

Gastrointestinal Problems ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Violent Relationship ◽

Gender Based

In a society where women still suffer from oppression and injustice, research on gender-based violence (GBV) and trauma recovery path is considered a priority. Specifically, it was to be researched how the social and cultural obstacles can affect the help-seeking behavior of Greek women who experienced GBV. The data of this qualitative research were collected through narrative interviews and the analysis was carried out with the thematic analysis. The significant findings of the research were that the feelings of the women changed through the violent relationship, with the feelings of betrayal, guilt, and shame dominating. Moreover, the relative network was not notably utilized, while it seems that the women who utilized their social network were helped to evolve. Additionally, the feelings of guilt and shame stood out as an obstacle to help-seeking behavior and the functionality of the women was reduced on multiple levels during the period in which they experienced gender-based violence. Finally, the physical symptoms of the women during that period, such as musculoskeletal pain, numbing, and gastrointestinal problems, evoke great interest.

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