Tackling loneliness together: a three-tier social identity framework for social prescribing

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Haslam, S.A., Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Sharman, L.S., Hayes, S., Walter, Z., Jetten, J., Steffens, N.K., Cardona, M., La Rue, C.J., McNamara, N. ORCID: 0000-0003-3123-3678, Kellezi, B. ORCID: 0000-0003-4825-3624, Wakefield, J. ORCID: 0000-0001-9155-9683, Stevenson, C. ORCID: 0000-0002-2438-6425, Bowe, M., McEvoy, P., Robertson, A.M., Tarrant, M. and Dingle, G., 2024. Tackling loneliness together: a three-tier social identity framework for social prescribing. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. ISSN 1368-4302 (Forthcoming)

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Abstract

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the threats to health posed by loneliness. One of the main strategies that has been recommended to address this is social prescribing (SP). This typically involves GPs and other health practitioners directing clients who are experiencing loneliness and related conditions to take part in social activities — typically in recreational and community contexts. However, evidence for the effectiveness of SP is mixed — leading some to suggest that enthusiasm for it might be misplaced. In this review, we argue that a core problem with most existing approaches to SP is that they lack a strong theoretical base. This has been a barrier to (a) understanding when SP will work and why, (b) designing optimally effective SP programs, and (c) developing practitioner skills and appropriate infrastructure to support them. As a corrective to this state of affairs, this review outlines a three-tier social identity framework for SP and five associated hypotheses. These hypotheses predict that SP will be more effective when (1) clients join groups, (2) these groups are ones with which they identify, and when SP is supported by (3) social identity-enhancing social infrastructure, (4) a social identity-based therapeutic alliance, and (5) identity leadership that builds and shapes this alliance as well as clients’ identification with prescribed groups. This framework is supported by a range of evidence and provides an agenda for much-needed future research and practice.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Group Processes and Intergroup Relations

Creators:

Haslam, S.A., Haslam, C., Cruwys, T., Sharman, L.S., Hayes, S., Walter, Z., Jetten, J., Steffens, N.K., Cardona, M., La Rue, C.J., McNamara, N., Kellezi, B., Wakefield, J., Stevenson, C., Bowe, M., McEvoy, P., Robertson, A.M., Tarrant, M. and Dingle, G.

Publisher:

Sage

Date:

16 March 2024

ISSN:

1368-4302

Identifiers: