Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences
IntroductionPeer recovery support services (PRSS), an expanding component in SUD treatment, are delivered by individuals with lived experience of substance use disorder (SUD). Despite the growing importance of these peers and the unique challenges they face in a developing health profession, limited...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1515264/full |
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| author | Justin S. Bell Dennis P. Watson Tina Griffin Sierra Castedo de Martell Emma Sophia Kay Mary Hawk Bradley Ray Michelle Hudson |
| author_facet | Justin S. Bell Dennis P. Watson Tina Griffin Sierra Castedo de Martell Emma Sophia Kay Mary Hawk Bradley Ray Michelle Hudson |
| author_sort | Justin S. Bell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPeer recovery support services (PRSS), an expanding component in SUD treatment, are delivered by individuals with lived experience of substance use disorder (SUD). Despite the growing importance of these peers and the unique challenges they face in a developing health profession, limited research has focused on their workforce outcomes. This review aims to map the literature on (a) workforce outcomes among peers and (b) the individual and organizational contributors to these outcomes.Materials and methodsWe conducted a scoping review of empirical literature from January 1, 1999 to January 26 2023 on APA PsycINFO®, Embase®, CINAHL®, Web of Science™, and Google Scholar. We also conducted a search of grey literature on institutional websites to locate additional articles. Search strategies targeted terms related to peers (e.g., peer specialist, people with lived experience), workforce outcomes (e.g., burnout, compassion fatigue), and organizational environments (e.g., workplace, volunteer). The review was preregistered with Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/C9YNR).ResultsOf the 16,361 total articles retrieved, 20 were included after screening, consisting of 9 quantitative, 9 qualitative, and 2 mixed-methods studies. Cross-sectional survey was the most common study design (n = 9). Organizational factors, such as supervisory support and professional development opportunities, were linked to increased job satisfaction and retention while factors such as inadequate compensation and stigma were barriers to workforce sustainability. Individual challenges, including boundaries with clients and a lack of self-care, were associated with burnout and decreased job satisfaction.ConclusionResults highlight challenges faced by peers in SUD services which limit their ability to sustain well-being and achieve career longevity. Research gaps include the need for longitudinal studies, a clearer understanding of work settings, and an exploration of mediating or moderating factors affecting workforce outcomes. Future efforts to foster a sustainable peer workforce should focus on improving peer workers’ well-being through organizational support, professional development, and targeted interventions based on occupational health theories. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c73c1677291f4b3e818d4735b5eaebcc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-c73c1677291f4b3e818d4735b5eaebcc2025-08-20T02:46:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-03-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.15152641515264Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influencesJustin S. Bell0Dennis P. Watson1Tina Griffin2Sierra Castedo de Martell3Emma Sophia Kay4Mary Hawk5Bradley Ray6Michelle Hudson7Chestnut Health Systems, Lighthouse Institute, Chicago, IL, United StatesChestnut Health Systems, Lighthouse Institute, Chicago, IL, United StatesUniversity Library, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesChestnut Health Systems, Lighthouse Institute, Chicago, IL, United StatesSchool of Nursing, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United StatesSchool of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesRTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United StatesChestnut Health Systems, Lighthouse Institute, Chicago, IL, United StatesIntroductionPeer recovery support services (PRSS), an expanding component in SUD treatment, are delivered by individuals with lived experience of substance use disorder (SUD). Despite the growing importance of these peers and the unique challenges they face in a developing health profession, limited research has focused on their workforce outcomes. This review aims to map the literature on (a) workforce outcomes among peers and (b) the individual and organizational contributors to these outcomes.Materials and methodsWe conducted a scoping review of empirical literature from January 1, 1999 to January 26 2023 on APA PsycINFO®, Embase®, CINAHL®, Web of Science™, and Google Scholar. We also conducted a search of grey literature on institutional websites to locate additional articles. Search strategies targeted terms related to peers (e.g., peer specialist, people with lived experience), workforce outcomes (e.g., burnout, compassion fatigue), and organizational environments (e.g., workplace, volunteer). The review was preregistered with Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/C9YNR).ResultsOf the 16,361 total articles retrieved, 20 were included after screening, consisting of 9 quantitative, 9 qualitative, and 2 mixed-methods studies. Cross-sectional survey was the most common study design (n = 9). Organizational factors, such as supervisory support and professional development opportunities, were linked to increased job satisfaction and retention while factors such as inadequate compensation and stigma were barriers to workforce sustainability. Individual challenges, including boundaries with clients and a lack of self-care, were associated with burnout and decreased job satisfaction.ConclusionResults highlight challenges faced by peers in SUD services which limit their ability to sustain well-being and achieve career longevity. Research gaps include the need for longitudinal studies, a clearer understanding of work settings, and an exploration of mediating or moderating factors affecting workforce outcomes. Future efforts to foster a sustainable peer workforce should focus on improving peer workers’ well-being through organizational support, professional development, and targeted interventions based on occupational health theories.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1515264/fullpeerspeer recovery support servicessubstance use disorderworkforce developmentburnout |
| spellingShingle | Justin S. Bell Dennis P. Watson Tina Griffin Sierra Castedo de Martell Emma Sophia Kay Mary Hawk Bradley Ray Michelle Hudson Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences Frontiers in Public Health peers peer recovery support services substance use disorder workforce development burnout |
| title | Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences |
| title_full | Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences |
| title_fullStr | Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences |
| title_short | Workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports: a scoping review of individual and organizational influences |
| title_sort | workforce outcomes among substance use peer supports a scoping review of individual and organizational influences |
| topic | peers peer recovery support services substance use disorder workforce development burnout |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1515264/full |
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