Skip to main content

Table 1 Summary of papers included in the systematic review

From: Characteristics, motivations and experiences of volunteer befrienders for people with mental illness: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

Country

Year

Study design

Number of volunteers interviewed

Volunteer age (mean and age range)

Volunteer gender (% female)

Mental disorders of patientsb

Austria [19]

2018

Survey of volunteers across 5 of the 8 regions in Austria

360

54.5

78.8

Adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

αGermany [20]

1990

Small questionnaire study

13

21–27

“Mostly female”

Chronically mentally ill

Ireland [21]

2015

Prospective RCT of befriending

73

Not stated

Not stated

Adults with SMI

UK [14]

2013

Service evaluation (questionnaire and qualitative interviews with volunteers)

80, 14 of whom took part in qualitative interviews

20–60 years-old

Not stated

Mothers with post-natal depression and complex needs

αUK [15]

1989

Naturalistic study, description of service

31

18–59

73.3

Isolated and lonely users of outpatient psychiatric services. Diagnoses: schizophrenia, manic depressive psychosis, depressive neurosis, anxiety states, dependent personality disorder.

αUK [16]

2003

Naturalistic study, profile of service

No detail

No detail

No detail

Socially isolated outpatients experiencing long standing mental health problems. 36% have depression, 10% dual diagnosis, 54% other (schizophrenia, manic-depression, anxiety, and long-term mental health problems).

αUK [17]

2003

Naturalistic study, profile of service

No detail

University students

Not stated (‘Problems recruiting enough male volunteers’)

People with enduring or severe/complex mental health problems. 70% of the 450 had schizophrenia.

αUK [18]

2011

Small questionnaire study

8

50 (29–65)

25

Adults (outpatients) with difficulties to form and sustain friendships due to moderate/severe mental health problems.

αUSA [22]

2009

Naturalistic study, service evaluation

12

Unclear. All but one estimated to be over 30, some of retirement age

66.7

People with severe mental illness (outpatients). Specific psychiatric diagnosis not obtained.

  1. aPapers taken from review conducted by Hallett et al. [11]
  2. bUsing the terminology of the original publications
  3. Total befrienders (N) = 577 (360 + 13 + 73 + 80 + 31 + 8 + 12)