Framing openness: Exploring Similarities and Differences in Patients’ and Their Social Networks’ Experiences with Participating in Dialogical Network Meetings Through the Lens of Mattering

In this qualitative study conducted at a public mental health outpatient clinic in Norway, the integration of patients' social network in treatment was examined. The aim was to explore the experiences of patients and their network during dialogical network meetings and discuss any similarities and differences between the two participant groups. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed on data obtained from fifty-three meetings, resulting in the development of five themes. For patients, there were two themes: "Enhanced trust within our relationships" and "Providing us a safe space to talk openly," and for network members there were three: "Empowered through participation," Being welcomed and taken seriously," and "Provide more clarity to enhance our ability to contribute." Mattering was employed as a conceptual framework to discuss the similarities and differences between the themes of the two participant groups. Both patients and network members placed strong emphasis on the freedom of expression and acknowledged the crucial role of the meeting leaders in facilitating discussions on important and challenging topics. Differences included network members' emphasis on feeling welcome and their need to add value, while patients emphasized strengthened relationships and feeling valued and empowered by being trusted to control the discussion content. Overall, mattering appears to be a valuable tool for understanding the relational dynamics within network meetings.\.