Peer-influenced

Summary

Peer influenced or peer-peer activities engage people in their existing communities, leveraging their existing relationships and common interests, while enhancing their knowledge of one another and their potential within their community. These types of activities can lead to discovery of strengths among peers, and can dispel misunderstandings and misconceptions that could later lead to significant relational friction. Peer influenced practices recognize that individuals can be significantly impacted by the people they associate with, and that peer relationships play a crucial role in mental health.

Notes and References:

NIMH

WINGMAN-CONNECT PROGRAM MODEL AND DEVELOPMENT

Wingman-Connect is an adaptation of a network-informed intervention. Since 2010, PI Wyman has led research (NIH, CDC funded) testing that program, which disseminates skills for social health through youth peer networks.  The high-energy, interactive training improves student connectedness and coping norms, and protective effects spread school-wide including adult help for suicidal youth.  A study aggregating three RCTs (N=78 schools; 39,900 students) showed fewer suicide deaths in schools implementing this approach.  

Wingman-Connect Program structure and key elements together strengthen relationship networks, cohesion, adaptive coping and group norms.

Program’s novel group intervention strengthens social bonds as well as peer network norms that incentivize healthy coping. This interactive training progresses from individual engagement (e.g., each participant shares career goals and values) to building group level skills and norms (e.g., mapping group strengths).

JAMA Open Network, October, 2020

Airmen learn skills to grow and sustain protective factors essential to job success, mental health and reduced suicide risk (Kinship, Purpose, Guidance, Balance). Class exercises create more cohesive units with skills extended into group culture.  Wingman Connect training is delivered to organizational units using interactive exercises to build key group and individual protective factors (Four Cores):

The study’s findings validate the underlying network health model: stronger bonds within a more cohesive healthy class reduced suicidal ideation and depression symptoms. These findings suggest that training classes became increasingly unified around healthy norms and encouraged classmates who were vulnerable to mental health or occupational problems at a key juncture of military training, in addition to meeting their needs for belonging. Work with recent social network modeling show that cohesive groups serve a protective regulatory function through norms and pressures to conform.

Social Science & Medicine                     Social Science & Medicine 296 (2022) 114737

Wingman-Connect counteracted the typical drift towards disconnection for Airmen at elevated suicide risk. Six-month findings again showed that W-CP offset the typical trajectory of decreasing connections for Airmen at elevated suicide risk.

These findings are, to our knowledge, the first to show that a suicide prevention program for small personnel units improved significantly the group relationship network and socially integrated members over time. This study extends knowledge of the social and relationship impact of the Wingman-Connect Program as it decreased suicide risk.

Wingman-Connect Program counteracted the expected drift towards disconnection for Airmen at elevated suicide risk by targeting the unit’s relationship network itself. These groups built enhanced suicide protection into their relationship networks, with the most consistent benefits for Airmen at elevated risk of suicide and for those starting with fewest connections.

Program built enhanced suicide protection into unit relationship networks and counteracted standard drift towards disconnection for at-risk Airmen, despite no explicit content targeting connections specifically to at-risk Airmen. Findings support a growing case for the unique contribution of group-level interventions to improve social health of broader populations.

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In the context of preventative mental health care, "peer influenced" refers to the effects or changes in an individual's behavior, attitudes, or mental health status that result from interactions with, or the influence of, their peers. Peers can be individuals within the same age group, social circle, or community. This concept recognizes that individuals can be significantly impacted by the people they associate with, and that peer relationships can play a crucial role in one's mental health.

Peer influence can be both positive and negative. On the positive side, peers can provide support, understanding, and companionship, which can be beneficial for mental well-being. They can encourage healthy behaviors, offer validation, and serve as a source of motivation for making positive life changes. Peer support groups, for example, are often used in preventative mental health care to encourage positive mental health practices and provide a sense of community.

On the negative side, peer influence can lead to the adoption of harmful behaviors or attitudes, such as substance abuse, risky behaviors, or the perpetuation of stigma around mental health issues. It can contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression, especially if an individual is pressured to conform to group norms that are misaligned with their values or well-being.

Preventative mental health care aims to leverage the positive aspects of peer influence while mitigating the negative ones. This could involve creating environments where positive peer interactions are encouraged, educating individuals about the impact of peer influence, and developing strategies to resist negative peer pressure. The goal is to enhance protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with mental health issues, promoting overall mental well-being within communities and groups.