Final answer:
Groups of people who share certain characteristics and provide emotional support to one another are known as support groups. They offer a network for people to exchange support, confront their beliefs, and share information on concerns of mutual interest, thereby improving psychological and health outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Groups of people sharing certain characteristics who get together to provide one another with emotional sustenance, encourage new coping mechanisms and allow a strengths-based sharing of issues, concerns, and problems are called support groups. Support groups serve as an emotional support network, building on the human need for strong, stable relationships that provide comfort during times of distress. This social support can manifest in various forms such as advice, guidance, encouragement, and emotional comfort. Also, social networks often consist of socially recognized groups who form deep emotional connections that can significantly impact individuals' health outcomes, with strong social relationships correlated to a 50% increase in survival likelihood. By facilitating an environment where individuals can give and receive support, challenge their beliefs, and connect with others on a mutual basis, support groups foster psychosocial well-being and can contribute to better health outcomes. These groups can be a source of strength and resilience, offering a platform for care-giving and care-receiving behaviors, as well as the exchange of information on matters of shared interest and concern. Thus, the correct answer is a) Support groups.