Visualisation of personal network maps : the experience of people with severe mental illness

Introduction: Visual mapping refers to the collaborative construction of a sociogram by both the researcher and the participant, resulting in a visual representation of the respondent's social network. This exercise is generally well-received by participants. However, mapping one's personal network and visualizing it requires respondents to expose and share their social identity. While this approach is gaining momentum as a data collection technique, little attention has been focused on its use for intervention purposes. Moreover, for vulnerable respondents, mapping and visualizing their social network can give rise to more significant concerns that remain unexplored. There is limited research describing the experiences of vulnerable respondents with regard to visual mapping. The aim of this study is to investigate the experience of vulnerable individuals when mapping and visualizing their personal network, assessing the appropriateness of this exercise, highlighting the social identities being emphasized, and exploring whether this approach induce a potential identity threat.



Methods: Individuals with severe mental disorders (SMI) were recruited as participants for an intervention focused on exploring and mapping their social support network in order to personalise care. The intervention was computer-based, using Network Canvas Interviewer. A deductive thematic analysis was conducted based on recorded and transcribed interviews.



Results: Seventeen SMI individuals were interviewed. Five central themes emerged from the data: the appropriateness and feasibility of the intervention both in terms of its nature and the digital tools employed, the patient identity presented before and throughout the interview, loyalty conflicts towards network members experienced at different stages of the mapping exercise, the network mindset, and the perceived identity threat occurring with visualization when there is a discrepancy between the sociogram and sense of self.



Discussion: Effect of visualisation requires researchers to adopt a reflexive approach during research encounters. Network visualisation is a relevant intervention for recovery practices.