OBJECTIVES: Using selected data collected by the Health Monitor (Bertelsmann-Stiftung) from 1,539 adults aged between 18 and 79 years this article describes which social factors have an impact on participation in self-help groups or organisations. Furthermore, questions about the length of participation, fields of self-help activity, and their usefulness were analysed. METHODS: All participants were approached in written form. The questionnaire included 103 health-related items (6 about self-help), and 15 demographic characteristics. The sample was weighted statistically by federal state, sex and age. RESULTS: 4.1% stated to be a member of self-help organisations for chronically ill or disabled people. On the whole, 9.1% have participated in self-help activities during their lifetime (currently active: 2.8%). Membership in self-help organisations increases with age, social class and according to personal involvement, whereas participation in self-help groups is quite different. The rate of participation of women is nearly twice as high as that of men (11.1 versus 6.9%). Generally, participation in self-help groups was also rated positively, but assessments vary with social class and the length of using them. CONCLUSION: Particularly with regard to the distribution of self-help participants depending on social class there are some discrepancies to other studies. These differences can supposedly be ascribed to methodical factors (e. g., social class index, sample size).
