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An Exploration of Helping Processes in an Online Self-Help Group Focusing on Issues of Disability
Abstract
This article reviews the growing use of online self-help and mutual aid groups and explores the helping mechanisms and content
of an online self-help group for issues related to disability. Messages were downloaded from the group and coded by raters
into helping categories to examine the extent to which therapeutic processes were found. The categories included both task
and socioemotional-related functions. The study found that the group provided many of the processes used in face-to-face self-help
and mutual aid groups, with an emphasis on mutual problem solving, information sharing, expression of feelings, catharsis,
and mutual support and empathy. Implications for social work and health care providers and the need for further research are
discussed.
... Accurate records remain problematic, but they are estimated to number hundreds of thousands worldwide, covering a diverse range of conditions and experiences (King & Moreggi, 2006). The value and limitations of such groups have been widely debated, but it is largely agreed they are similar in philosophy and approach to face-to-face self-help/mutual aid groups, but are not restricted by the constraints of time and distance (Finn, 1999). By using interactive forums like social media, online self-help/mutual aid groups have successfully utilised new technologies to provide support to their members (Levine, 2005). ...
... Similarly, growing research in online self-help/mutual aid groups indicates many of the features valued by members attending face-toface groups, such as mutual support, information sharing (Finn, 1999) and access to others with similar concerns (King & Moreggi, 2006), are found within online groups. Yet fundamentally participation in online self-help/mutual aid groups remains restricted to those with access to a computer and who have the ability to type, either directly or indirectly through access to assisted technologies. ...
... On the whole the literature has tended to distinguish between selfhelp/mutual aid groups that meet face-to-face and those that are online (Finn, 1999;Madara, 1997;King & Moreggi, 2006). However, as most of the groups that participated in this study had or were developing an online group presence our fi ndings suggest these divisions are somewhat artifi cial, as the boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred. ...
This paper explores the use of social media by self-help/mutual aid groups that meet on a regular face-to-face basis. It draws on data from the ESTEEM project, which ran from 2010 to 2013 with the overall aim of developing a range of resources for health and social care practitioners on how to support self-help/mutual aid groups. A re-examination of the interviews and discussions that were undertaken with 21 groups in two UK sites indicated that groups’ use of social media was becoming an increasingly important resource. The findings highlight a range of benefits and limitations with selfhelp/mutual aid groups using social media and suggest a blurring of boundaries between online and face-to-face groups. For groupworkers involved with self-help/mutual aid groups opportunities in developing groups’ online presence are raised.
... Previous studies have identified some of the advantages that online self-help forums can offer: they allow a greater degree of anonymity as compared to offline support groups, which encourages users to express their thoughts and emotions more freely. The anonymous nature of online support groups especially benefits people with stigmatizing illnesses (i.e., AIDS, breast cancer, prostate cancer) as the online environments were perceived by patients as an easier and safer haven for discussing private or potentially taboo topics (Finn, 1999;White and Dorman, 2001;Coursaris and Liu, 2009). The readily available online self-help groups also allow users easier access which minimizes time and location constraints. ...
... Apart from the advantages offered by online self-help groups, researchers have also been interested in different types of self-help mechanisms and social support that occur in online support group exchanges. A number of studies have adopted content analysis to identify the different types of self-help mechanisms in various online support groups (Finn, 1999;Perron, 2002;Haker et al., 2005). Some important functions of online self-help discussion groups include information sharing, emotional support, advice, social connection, and a sense of community (Klemm et al., 2003;Wicks et al., 2013;Pereira et al., 2021). ...
... As suggested by group work theory (Rose, 1977), a wellfunctioning group should be able to satisfy both the task and socioemotional needs of its members. The findings of the current study show that this specific LIHKG discussion thread provided a venue for its users not only limited to COVID-19 information exchange, but also socioemotional expressions which supports previous studies that investigated online group functions (Finn, 1999;Malik and Coulson, 2010). ...
Since the beginning of 2022, the Hong Kong government has imposed strict social distancing measures and changed its stance on various regional policies with the aim to contain the so-called ‘fifth wave’ of COVID-19. In these pandemic and ‘infodemic’ times filled with uncertainty and fear, Hong Kong netizens used local online discussion forums as a resource to establish an innovative form of ‘helping network.’ This study is based on 230 posts from a popular local online discussion forum ‘LIHKG’ in February 2022 when the pandemic was regarded as most critical by the Department of Health. Speech Acts theoretic approach was adopted to explore how forum users employed speech acts to perform various communicative practices such as expressing concerns, asking for information, and engaging with others in a CMC environment amid a global health crisis. Representatives were found to be the most dominant text-based speech acts, followed by directives, expressives and commissives. Speech acts provide forum users a context in which emoji usage occurs. Forum users not only make use of words to ‘do’ things in the online self-help forum, but they also employ emojis to either supplement or complement speech acts. This study also shows that emojis perform multiple functions in the discussion posts and argues that they do not merely function as emotion indicators of their textual company, but also carry significant pragmatic meanings by illustrating how they can also carry illocutionary force and in some cases, even alter the illocutionary force of their preceding texts. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of how forum users communicate via verbal and nonverbal means within the underexplored ‘helping domain’ of online discussion forums. It also suggests that online discussion forum interactions need to be approached differently than other better understood alternatives.
... Despite its high relevance, the context of career orientation lacks theoretical and practical contributions on social support in online peer groups. Various studies on social support in online peer groups in other contexts have shown that the provision of social support can not only vary between contexts (e.g., Weinberg et al. 1996;Finn 1999;Sullivan 2003;Coulson et al. 2007; Guo and Goh 2014;Gaysynsky et al. 2015) but also depending on the individual's characteristics like for example gender (Gooden and Winefield 2007;Mo et al. 2009). Therefore, it is still to be analyzed how people's social support behavior varies depending on their characteristics in the context of career orientation. ...
... Literature differentiates among types of social support. A widely used nomenclature identifies five social support types: Informational Support, Esteem Support, Emotional Support, Network Support and Tangible Assistance (e.g., Coulson et al. 2007;Cutrona and Suhr 1992;Finn 1999;Ravert et al. 2004;Sullivan 2003;Weinberg et al. 1996). Even though the depicted social support types are quite broad and might be overlapping depending on the exact interpretation, each type of social support has its own clear focus. ...
... In online peer groups, people can ask questions and receive or share various types of information, including personal and topic-specific information, factual and technical information, and clarification (Weinberg et al. 1996;Ravert et al. 2004). In addition to gaining access to information from other peers and experts, members can offer and give advice to their peers (Weinberg et al. 1996;Finn 1999;Ravert et al. 2004;Sullivan 2003;Coulson et al. 2007). ...
The success and growth of online peer groups has evoked interest in their potential to provide support for their members who share similar challenges. While there is a growing body of knowledge in this field, there is still a lack of understanding social support in online peer groups for career counseling, a prevention for youth unemployment. The unique dataset underlying our explorative study contains messages written by pupils in online peer groups for career counseling at the German Federal Employment Agency. Applying content analysis and logistic regression analysis we analyze which types of social support arise in the online peer groups depending on peers’ characteristics. We show that the online peer groups provide types of social support traditional one-on-one counseling cannot offer. Our analysis indicates that depending on peers’ gender and average school grade, the prevalence of the different types of social support changes. To a smaller extent this is also the case for differences in migration background. Our results contribute to a better understanding of social support in online peer groups for career counseling to address youth unemployment.
... Among the nine publicly available groups explored, engagement and the number of posts in each group were proportional to the number of members. The group with the most members, Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), had the highest number of posts (539) and maximum engagement (14,376). Conversely, the group with the least number of members, Myositis Support Group of Singapore, had minimal engagement. ...
... Contrary to a study focusing on Facebook groups for multiple sclerosis communities where information and awareness-raising posts comprised around 70% of the total content, we observed that nearly one in five posts in the myositis community was information-related [13]. Recent content analysis of myositis on YouTube iterates the relevance of valid and reliable medical information shared across platforms [8], as inactive members of online forums may benefit from the shared knowledge and experiences without active engagement via reacts or posts/comments [14]. ...
Introduction
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are heterogeneous and complex, and routine consultation can be overwhelming for patients, or sometimes so rushed that patients feel unable to discuss their needs and wishes adequately. As a result, online patient support groups (PSGs) on social media platforms like Facebook may help provide them with information they are seeking, and the support of the patient community who are living with this condition. Our goal is to explore the current landscape of PSGs in IIM to discuss the future of such groups and their role in supporting patient-driven self-management of complex connective tissue diseases.
Methods
We investigated factors that influence engagement in publicly accessible support groups on Facebook for patients with myositis. We analysed posts from myositis-related Facebook groups and pages between July 10, 2022, and October 2022. Data were extracted from each post, including presentation format (text, picture, video or mixed media) and content type (news, personal feelings or information). To gauge the post’s impact, we measured engagement metrics, such as likes, comments, shares and reactions.
Results
Nearly three-quarters of the groups were private. Among the open ones, most posts seem to comprise pictures with text. Notably, engagement levels were higher for multimedia posts, with the exception of comments in groups, where engagement was comparatively lower.
In terms of content, the majority of posts fell under the ‘personal’ category, followed by ‘information’ and ‘news’ posts, with information posts in groups receiving the most interactions. Moreover, groups exhibited higher total engagement compared to pages when considering all posts cumulatively.
Conclusions
Our observations indicate that patients with myositis seek information on the condition online, and the multimedia nature of content presentation significantly influences engagement. These digital forums serve as valuable platforms for fostering connections among diverse individuals, providing a perceived safe space for sharing their personal experiences and varied perspectives, and potentially mitigating social isolation. Key Points • Patient support groups on myositis are a key source of support and information for patients. • Public posts with multimedia content garner the most engagement. • The majority of posts are personal in nature, with a smaller proportion of content providing news or information.
... Similarly, given that peer support brings together individuals with a common condition or identity, a core function of online peer support groups can be promoting a feeling of shared experience [57,58]. This feeling of "universality" describes "the idea that people have the same experiences or report similar experiences, circumstances, or feelings" [59]. Although less studied in online peer support, expressions of universality may validate and normalize shared identities [60,61], playing an important role for self-acceptance and well-being, particularly in the face of societal stigma [62], such as exists for SUDs. ...
... Finally, although past work has noted that experiences of oneness or universality are common in peer support groups [60], this work establishes that individual differences in expressing such feelings distinguish those more likely to have greater well-being at follow-up. Experiences of universality and belonging may be important in the SUD context to counteract the feelings of alienation and loneliness that individuals frequently experience [57,59]. ...
Background
Smartphone-based apps are increasingly used to prevent relapse among those with substance use disorders (SUDs). These systems collect a wealth of data from participants, including the content of messages exchanged in peer-to-peer support forums. How individuals self-disclose and exchange social support in these forums may provide insight into their recovery course, but a manual review of a large corpus of text by human coders is inefficient.
Objective
The study sought to evaluate the feasibility of applying supervised machine learning (ML) to perform large-scale content analysis of an online peer-to-peer discussion forum. Machine-coded data were also used to understand how communication styles relate to writers’ substance use and well-being outcomes.
Methods
Data were collected from a smartphone app that connects patients with SUDs to online peer support via a discussion forum. Overall, 268 adult patients with SUD diagnoses were recruited from 3 federally qualified health centers in the United States beginning in 2014. Two waves of survey data were collected to measure demographic characteristics and study outcomes: at baseline (before accessing the app) and after 6 months of using the app. Messages were downloaded from the peer-to-peer forum and subjected to manual content analysis. These data were used to train supervised ML algorithms using features extracted from the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) system to automatically identify the types of expression relevant to peer-to-peer support. Regression analyses examined how each expression type was associated with recovery outcomes.
ResultsOur manual content analysis identified 7 expression types relevant to the recovery process (emotional support, informational support, negative affect, change talk, insightful disclosure, gratitude, and universality disclosure). Over 6 months of app use, 86.2% (231/268) of participants posted on the app’s support forum. Of these participants, 93.5% (216/231) posted at least 1 message in the content categories of interest, generating 10,503 messages. Supervised ML algorithms were trained on the hand-coded data, achieving F1-scores ranging from 0.57 to 0.85. Regression analyses revealed that a greater proportion of the messages giving emotional support to peers was related to reduced substance use. For self-disclosure, a greater proportion of the messages expressing universality was related to improved quality of life, whereas a greater proportion of the negative affect expressions was negatively related to quality of life and mood.
Conclusions
This study highlights a method of natural language processing with potential to provide real-time insights into peer-to-peer communication dynamics. First, we found that our ML approach allowed for large-scale content coding while retaining moderate-to-high levels of accuracy. Second, individuals’ expression styles were associated with recovery outcomes. The expression types of emotional support, universality disclosure, and negative affect were significantly related to recovery outcomes, and attending to these dynamics may be important for appropriate intervention.
... However, online support group members can also face a variety of challenges (van Uden- Kraan et al., 2008), such as the quality and validity of information exchanged (Finn, 1999;Wright, 2002) and potential exposure to negative or self-destructive postings that may undermine the health benefits of online support (Campbell & Wright, 2002;Wright & Bell, 2003). Moreover, researchers have identified other negative aspects of online support communities that may influence health outcomes, including flaming and delayed feedback in computer-mediated interactions, short-term participation, and negative social comparisons (Wright, 2000;Wright & Bell, 2003). ...
... Online groups can be beneficial by offering connections to relevant peers (Scharer, 2005) and expanding access to resources and social capital by gaining access to others' online networks via the online support community (Walther & Boyd, 2002;Wright & Miller, 2010). However, weak-tie networks can also come with costs because members of online groups lack control over the quality, content, and validity of presented information (Finn, 1999;Klemm et al., 2003;Wright, 2002). According to Colineau and Paris (2010), people choose weak tie networks because of the members' ability to understand their experience and because of the emotional distance afforded by the online communication. ...
Numerous studies over the past two decades suggest that people with a variety of health concerns are increasingly turning to online networks for social support. This has led to the rise of online support groups/communities for people facing health concerns. Researchers have found that these groups/communities provide patients, disease survivors, and caregivers a number of advantages and disadvantages in terms of mobilizing social support for their health-related concerns. This chapter will examine these issues in greater detail as well as the theoretical and practical implications of this body of research for patients who use online support communities to help cope with and manage a variety of health issues. It will provide an overview of online social support and health outcomes, discuss key processes and theoretical explanations for the efficacy of online support communities for people facing health concerns, and the limitations of this body of research as well as an agenda for future communication research on health-related online support groups/communities.
... Das Internet bietet jedoch für die Patienten nicht nur die Möglichkeit der E-Mail-Konsultation und umfangreiches Informationsmaterial, sondern ein breites Angebot an Kommunikationsszenarien in zahlreichen Diskussionsforen (Newsgroups, Mailinglisten, Chats oder MUDs). Diese Kommunikationsszenarien dienen ebenfalls der Informationsversorgung, jedoch dar ü b e r hinaus gewähren sie den Beteiligtenden Patienten und ihren Angehörigen -in einem viel umfassenderen Sinne social support in Form emotionaler, einschätzungsmäßiger, informativer und instrumenteller Unterstützung: 25 Thakkar (1996), Weinberg, Schmale, Uken & Wessel (1996), Culver, Gerr & Frumkin (1997, Fernsler & Manchester (1997), Osheroff (1997), Sharf (1997), Winzelberg (1997), , Green (1998), Gustafson et al. (1998), King & Moreggi (1998), Klemm, Reppert & Visich (1998), Kraut, Patterson, Lundmark, Kiesler, Mukophadhyay & Scherlis (1998, , Whitney (1998), Brennan (1999), Dworschak (1999), Finn (1999, Klemm, Hurst, Dearholt & Trone (1999), Landro (1999), Davison, Pennebaker & Dickerson (2000), Dickerson, Flaig & Kennedy (2000), Döring (2000c), Feldman (2000, Finfgeld (2000), Hoffman-Anuta (2000), Larkin (2000), Reeves (2000), Scheiber & Gründel (2000) und White & Dorman (2000). ...
... Mit der Herauslösung des Individuums aus traditionalen Normen-und Wertesystemen und vielfältigen sozialen Bindungen durch Individualisierungsprozesse eröffnet sich die Freiheit, aber auch die Notwendigkeit für eigene biogra-27 Siehe hierzu Osheroff (1997), Sharf (1997), Green (1998), Gustafson et al. (1998), , Whitney (1998), Dworschak (1999), Finn (1999), Klemm, Hurst, Dearholt & Trone (1999), Landro (1999) phische Entscheidungen, für Lebensentwürfe und -planungen. Mehr als früher wird dann für die eigenverantwortliche Lebensplangestaltung menschliche agency verlangt, das heißt individuelles Gestaltungsvermögen und -handeln (Knorr Cetina, 1998). ...
Einleitung:
Wenn wir uns im vorliegenden Beitrag mit
den Medien und ihrer Nutzung für den medizin-
und gesundheitsrelevanten Wissenstransfer
beschäftigen, so mag es zu einem besseren Verstehen
beitragen, vorab den medizingeschichtlichen
Hintergrund auszuleuchten und in einem
kurzen historischen Exkurs die Entstehung der
modernen Medizin und die Genese ihrer Informations-
und Wissensproblematik darzustellen.
... On parle de soutien informationnel pour les situations d'échanges d'informations utiles et de conseils (Van Dama et al., 2005). Le soutien informationnel est une aide à la résolution de problèmes et à la prise de décisions (Finn, 1999). Ce type de soutien est très proche du soutien évaluatif (qui est parfois considéré comme un genre particulier de soutien informationnel), qui consiste à apporter à un demandeur une évaluation de sa situation. ...
... Tout d'abord, le soutien social se réalise souvent à travers l'empathie (le partage émotionnel) et l'échange d'expérience. Partager ses émotions, ses expériences ou ses perspectives permet la constitution d'un terrain commun : l'expérience relatée devient plus universelle (Finn, 1999) et favorise alors le soutien social. Ceci explique que les activités de soutien social intègrent fréquemment des séquences de discours intime et de dévoilement de soi (Preece, 1998 ;Klaw, Dearmin-Huebsch et Humphreys, 2000). ...
... Klien juga menyatakan bahawa, jika mereka ingin menggunakan perkhidmatan e-kaunseling, mereka memerlukan kemahiran menggunakan komputer, perkakasan komputer dengan talian internet serta kad kredit atau perbankan internet untuk urusan pembayaran fi kaunselor. Akibatnya, klien yang tidak mempunyai kemahiran dan kemudahan yang dinyatakan di atas, tidak dapat mengoptimumkan penggunaan perkhidmatan e-kaunseling (Finn, 1999;Finn& Barak, 2010). ...
... Kebocoran mungkin berlaku dalam bentuk kelalaian untuk menyimpan kata laluan ataupun kelalaian untuk log keluar setelah sesi kaunseling selesai dijalankan. Selain kelalaian, maklumat klien juga mungkin akan dapat dilihat oleh individu yang menjadi penyelaras atau pentadbir sistem (Finn, 1999). Selain itu klien juga mungkin berdepan dengan e-kaunselor yang menipu, tidak mempunyai kelayakan dan perakuan amalan (Baker & Ray, 2011). ...
ABSTRAK Perkhidmatan e-kaunseling merupakan perkembangan yang masih baru dalam perkhidmatan kaunseling sejagat malah di Malaysia. Perkhidmatan ini dilihat menjadi suatu alternatif dalam pemberian perkhidmatan kaunseling seiring dengan arus perkembangan dunia teknologi maya yang menjadi alat komunikasi yang semakin penting dalam kehidupan manusia. Proses e-kaunseling boleh berlaku melalui emel, konferensi video, chat atas talian, dan talian telefon internet di mana seorang kaunselor membantu klien mereka melalui talian internet. Artikel ini mengemukakan suatu tinjauan umum berkaitan dengan isu amalan e-kaunseling disamping memberi kupasan berkaitan dengan terminologi dan definisi e-kaunseling, sejarah awal perkhidmatan e-kaunseling sejagat, perkhidmatan e-kaunseling yang ditawarkan, isu-isu dalam perkhidmatan e-kaunseling dan senario perkhidmatan e-kaunseling di Malaysia. Hasil daripada kupasan isu yang dikemukakan dalam artikel ini, penulis telah membuat beberapa kesimpulan dan melontarkan dua persoalan kepada para kaunselor di Malaysia. Kedua-dua persoalannya tersebut adalah, "Adakah para kaunselor telah benar-benar bersedia untuk menjalankan perkhidmatan e-kaunseling?' dan "Adakah perkhidmatan e-kaunseling relevan dalam konteks kaunseling masakini di Malaysia?
... The rarity of this type of support is also due to the fact that instrumental assistance involves the provision of tangible help and services that often require physical presence and proximity, and HVSCs members are normally geographically dispersed and interact virtually (Pfeil 2009;Wright and Bell 2003). Extant healthcare research shows that instrumental support was not observed and was the least visible support type in HVSCs (e.g., Blank et al. 2010;Braithwaite et al. 1999;Finn 1999). In fact, there has long been concern about the ability of virtual communities to transact instrumental social support (e.g., Walther and Boyd 2002). ...
... This strategy was undertaken due to the nature of online threaded discussions in which the first message of a thread sets up a discussion topic and the conversation that follows is supposed to revolve around this topic. 9 If more than one support type was provided in a message, the predominant one was coded, in order to capture the primary intention and focus of message posters during message composition (Finn 1999). An example of an informational support message is illustrated here: "An hour before your test you will be injected with a radioactive glucose solution. ...
... The evolving research on technology in social work practice and education reports challenging fi ndings and identifi es gaps in knowledge about online group interventions, process, leadership and effectiveness (Abell and Galinsky, 2002;Finn, 1995). These processes have often been identifi ed in face-to-face groups but less information exists about them in online groups 1999, Meier, 2000 as these are still in the early stages of being studied. Analysis of data in this study mirrors such observations. ...
This article reviews findings of a small, exploratory study of 45 female, masters-level social work students who participated face-to-face or online in course required self-help groups. Explored with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were reasons for female students’ choice of group medium and satisfaction with peer support in both types of groups. A range of supportive acts and behaviors were reported in the qualitative data although there were few statistically significant differences in quantitative peer support scores when grouped by face-to-face and online group membership. Contributions from research on the relational theory of women’s development and group psychotherapy are suggested to help in developing online learning environments geared towards female learners.
... In general, self-help groups are based on principles of empowerment, inclusion, non-hierarchical decision making, shared responsibility, and a holistic approach to people's cultural, economic, and social needs. 7 Attending a self-help group (SHG) can be a meaningful activity for people attending a vocational rehabilitation program as such a group provides a secure setting for people to manage their sickness and pursue changes in their life situation. 8 In view of this perspective, the study was intended with the objective to explore the impact of self-help groups on persons with disabilities as a comparative approach among those enrolled in SHG versus those who were not enrolled in the same. ...
Background: Self-help groups for persons with disabilities exist with a rather common objective to address problems, enhance their strengths, and improve their quality of life. Objectives were to explore the impact of self-help groups on persons with disabilities as a comparative approach among those enrolled in SHG versus those who were not enrolled in the same. Methods: A community-based, qualitative study was done among persons with disabilities in rural Karnataka with a total of 7 focus group discussions, 5 key informant interviews and 2 in depth interviews. Topic guides, recorder and sociogram were used as aids. Themes and sub-themes were formed from the transcript and a deductive analysis was done. Results: A total of 12 villages were covered and the age group of our study participants varied between 18 to 60 years with a mean age of 40.6±12.9 years. Out of the total 97 FGD participants, 36 (37%) males and 14 (14%) females were gainfully employed, out of whom, 12 (33%) males and 8 (57%) females were enrolled in SHGS. Also, 7 (58.3%) out of the 12 males and 5 (62.5%) out of the 8 females had begun their daily means of income post their enrolment in SHGs, thereby accounting for the awareness and efforts to be self-empowered. The KII and IDI were also in alignment with the different perspectives gained from the FGDs, respectively. Conclusions: Self-help groups help improve socialization, and self-esteem of individuals with disability and helps them feel empowered to lead independent lives.
... Gathering with people with similar challenges makes one realize that they are not alone and that there is an entire community who understands, empathizes, and relates to them. This insight alone can have an extremely uplifting impact on one's psyche (Finn, 1999;Vickery, 2022). ...
Higher education students with dyslexia are generally under enormous emotional pressure. The fear of getting exposed as “stupid” leads many of them to isolate themselves and avoid social contact with their peers. In consequence, a lot of dyslexic college students suffer from feelings of loneliness or even depression and anxiety. One promising way to palliate the anguish is participation in self-help groups. They can create a sense of belonging and of not being the only one out there with severe reading and writing problems. Moreover, they can help disseminate practical informa- tion on how to best cope with one’s challenges. In this paper, we describe the opportunities that digital self-support groups (mostly by means of vid- eo conferencing) can offer. We argue that for these groups to be successful, they need a facilitator, must limit their attendance to a specific set of not more than five members, should have some etiquette and routines, should not limit the number of sessions that one is allowed to attend, and should be connected with nonprofit associations or other suitable organizations to elicit synergy effects.
... Intergroup sharing has overtaken virtual sharing, expanding the possibility of sharing personal experiences. An early study on disability showed how online groups could benefit from mutual problem solving, information sharing, expression of feelings, catharsis, mutual support, and empathy (Finn, 1999). More recently, immersion in virtual video-game worlds has been explored as a possible source of affective ToM development (Bormann and Greitemeyer, 2015). ...
In the current pandemic situation, psychological science is increasingly considered by public health policy. Empathy is mainly recognized as a crucial drive for prosocial behavior. However, this rich body of evidence still lacks visibility and implementation. Effective social programs are needed, and little is known about how to elicit empathetic drives. The paper gives first a clear foundation to the role of empathy during stressful events. It provides then a comprehensive overview of innovative interventions triggering empathic response in the public such as fiction, film, and theater. Moreover, it integrates interactive ways of sharing personal views that could elicit empathetic feelings in different people. Advances deriving from this perspective could be of significant public interest in the current and future health crises and help authorities develop innovative social programs, which should be the focus of further scientific inquiry.
... Given the growing evidence suggesting that positive outcomes can be achieved through the use of digital mental health technologies [15][16][17][18][19][20], on March 18, 2020 (the same month the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic), the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada [21] launched a COVID-19 resource page on the CAMH website [22]. The website was designed to be a digital, plain language, nonstigmatizing psychoeducational resource for Canadians experiencing mild to moderate distress due to COVID-19. ...
Background:
COVID 19 and its public health response are having a profound effect on people's mental health. To provide supports during these times Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital (CAMH) launched the Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic website on March 18, 2020. This website was designed to be a non-stigmatizing psycho-educational resource for people experiencing mild to moderate distress due to COVID-19 and the public health response to the pandemic.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to examine the reach, usability and user perceptions of the CAMH Mental Health and COVID-19 Pandemic website.
Methods:
This study utilized a mix-method sequential explanatory design approach, which consisted of two distinct phases: 1) quantitative data collection and analysis followed by, 2) qualitative semi structured interviews. In phase 1, we analyzed google analytics data to understand how many people visited the website, and which were the most visited pages. We conducted a survey to identify users' socio-demographic background, and assess the usability of the website using the System Usability Scale (SUS) tool, and users subjective stress levels using the perceived stress scale (PSS-10). For phase 2, we conducted semi-structured interviews to explore user experiences, their motivation, engagement, satisfaction and perception of the stress reduction strategies, and reflections of the website's functionality, ease of use, navigation, design, and recommendations for improvement.
Results:
Google analytic results showed 146,978 unique users from June 2020 to March 2021. Most users were from Canada (88.5 %). Between February 20, 2021 and June 4, 2021, 152 users completed the survey. Most users identified as white, female, and having at least a college degree. Based on the PSS-10 scores, most participants were experiencing moderate to high stress when they visited the website. Users rated the usability of the website as acceptable. Ten users completed in-depth interviews between May 2021 and June 2021. Positive feedback related to the content was that the website was a trustworthy source of mental health information with helpful evidence-based stress reduction strategies. Areas for improvement included the text heavy design of the website, wider dissemination/marketing, and greater accessibility of the website to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Conclusions:
Adding stress reduction resources in a website from a well-respected institution may be a practical method to increase awareness and access to evidence-based stress reduction resources during times of crisis where there is severe disruption to usual health care contacts. Efforts to ensure that these resources are more widely accessed especially by diverse populations are needed.
Clinicaltrial:
... Internet has empowered many socially marginalized users by providing a sense of belongingness and social support which they develop via interacting with fellow users (Finn, 1996;Finn, 1999;Shaw & Gant, 2002;Wellman, 2001). They frame a networked discussion group which comprises of multi participants focusing on the specific topic of interest (Marciano, 2011). ...
: Technology has irreversibly transformed the society and provided a platform to shape the values believes and culture of masses keeping in mind the elimination of gender disparity. However, the existence of Transgender section has challenged the rigid concept of this binary arrangement of social institution. As biological sex does not coincide with the gender identity, transgenders experience severe violence and harassment and most of them are subjected to housing and employment discrimination. Major technological advances such as cyberspace, internet and mass media have provided enormous opportunities for transgender upliftment. Socializing from private realms to discussing various sensitive and embarrassing issues on social platform, from offering or receiving suitable advice and support regarding coming out to sharing unconventional emotions staying at the fringes of the society, technology plays a significant role in tackling gender inequality and empowering transgender. This paper, therefore examines how cyberspace and mass media empowers transgenders by overcoming offline impediments related to their gender and awaking common masses vis-à-vis the issues transgender face due to their gender identity.
... Along with a touch of belongingness, internet has empowered socially marginalized sections especially transgenders by providing social and emotional support through interaction with fellow transgenders in web. (Finn, 1996;Finn, 1999;Shaw & Gant, 2002;Wellman, 2001). ...
: The goal of this paper is to attempt understanding around suicidal ideation in transgender youth and to find out how technology prevents risk of suicidal ideation among them. A pragmatic approach is followed including face to face interview of 75 transgenders about their suicidal thoughts and how major technical advances such as cyberspace, internet, mass media, and telephonic conversation enhance resilience and reduce suicidal thoughts enduring in them. Results in this article motives that instigated suicidal ideas in Transgender youth dominantly comprised of isolation and rejection based on gender identity. Participants conquered suicidal thoughts by connecting with their loved ones for social and moral support and by socializing from private realms to discuss various sensitive and embarrassing issues which regulated their adverse behavior into self-love. 85.33% of Transgender youth out of the sample of 75 agreed to the fact that they have at least once thought of attempting suicide and 75% of the sample have given up the idea of suicide due to technology enhanced intervention by providing a social platform for discussing issues, receiving advices and support about 'coming out' despite staying at the fringes of the society. This experimented paper on studying emotions of depressed transgenders can be helpful in understanding the real life challenges in the life of transgender and innovation of up-to-date technology will be encouraged in prohibiting suicidal ideas among transgenders.
... Social media and other forums are popular resources for health information, even though some forums may spread misinformation [38]. Studies have shown that people may seek forums and self-help groups to provide emotional support [39][40][41][42], particularly given online forums may allow anonymous disclosure without feelings of shame or guilt [43]. Finding emotional support without being stigmatized is especially relevant for PWUD [44] and is an urgent matter, given opioid overdose-related use of health care has increased throughout the pandemic. ...
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed how people seeking to reduce opioid use access treatment services and navigate efforts to abstain from using opioids. Social distancing policies have drastically reduced access to many forms of social support, but they may have also upended some perceived barriers to reducing or abstaining from opioid use.
Objective:
This qualitative study aimed to identify informal coping strategies for reducing and abstaining from opioid use among Reddit users who have posted in opioid-related subreddits at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
We extracted data from two major opioid-related subreddits. Thematic data analysis was used to evaluate subreddit posts dated from March 5, 2020 to May 13, 2020 that referenced COVID-19 and opioid use, resulting in a final sample of 300 posts that were coded and analyzed.
Results:
Of the 300 subreddit posts, 100 discussed at least one type of informal coping strategy. Those strategies included: psychological and behavioral coping skills, adopting healthy habits, and using substances to manage withdrawal symptoms. Twelve subreddit posts explicitly mentioned using social distancing as an opportunity for cessation or reduction of opioid use.
Conclusions:
Reddit discussion forums provided a community for people to share strategies for reducing opioid use and support others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research needs to assess the impact of COVID-19 on opioid use behaviors, especially during periods of limited treatment access and isolation, as these can inform future efforts in curbing the opioid epidemic and other substance related harms.
... In the context of online health communities, few studies have clearly defined the concept of empowerment. Some studies have focused on the process of patient empowerment in online health communities [20][21][22][23], while others have focused on patient empowerment outcomes [24][25][26][27]. Therefore, based on previous studies on the definition of the empowerment process, this paper clarified the content of the empowerment process of patients in online mental health communities, and explored the impact of the empowerment process on the patients' beliefs about expectation confirmation and disease management ability. ...
Introduction:
Online mental health communities may provide new opportunities for rehabilitation for people with mental illness, so it is important to understand the factors that influence the continued use of online mental health communities by people with mental illness.
Methods:
From the perspective of empowerment, based on the theory of health self-efficacy and expectation confirmation, this study explored the mediating role of health self-efficacy and expectation confirmation in the empowerment process of patients in online mental health communities and users' intention to continue using online mental health communities. To verify this model, we obtained 272 valid questionnaires. The SmartPLS 3.0 software was selected for model construction and empirical analysis.
Results:
Health self-efficacy completely mediates the relationship between the empowerment process (i.e., emotional support, information support, helping others and sharing experiences) and users' intention to continue using an online mental health community. Expectation confirmation partially mediates the relationship between the empowerment process (i.e., information support and finding recognition) and users' intention to continue using an online mental health community.
Conclusion:
The empowerment process is the main predictor of user health self-efficacy and expectation confirmation. This study has certain theoretical and practical significance for online mental health community research.
... For example, a meta-analysis of 24 relevant studies found that self-help interventions reduced depressive and psychotic symptoms (Scott et al., 2015). Additionally, studies have shown that online self-help groups effectively provide many of the benefits of face-to-face self-help groups including a sense of control, selfconfidence, social support, personal empowerment, and mutual problem solving (Barak et al., 2008;Coursaris & Liu, 2009;Finn, 1999). Given that self-help interventions can be delivered in-person or virtually, they can reach more people and increase access to social support than standard mental health services during a disaster such as a pandemic. ...
The 2019 coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the physical and mental health of individuals and communities worldwide. While research is being conducted in real-time to address the unique impacts of COVID-19, this moment is also an opportunity to learn from previous infectious disease outbreaks. The goal of this paper is to review the literature on previous infectious disease outbreaks to better understand and identify effective interventions that may help mitigate the psychological impact and collective trauma on a given community. Five strategies are recommended for developing a plan of action: (1) engage and partner with community leaders and community-based organizations; (2) establish (and re-establish) community support networks including self-help groups; (3) conduct community outreach, education, and training on the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how to access mental health resources, and effective supportive and coping skills; (4) deploy Community Health Workers to access, engage, and educate community members; and (5) use a community capacity-building and community empowerment-oriented approach. When implemented together, these strategies have been shown to help communities reduce the mental health impact and heal from the collective trauma of an infectious disease outbreak and increase the collective efficacy of a community, resulting in increased resiliency and preparedness for future outbreaks.
... The literature about OHCs distinguishes between posts seeking emotional support and posts seeking informational support (Bambina, 2007;Deetjen and Powell, 2016). Previous studies have consistently found that informational and emotional support make up the largest share of posts in OHCs (Braithwaite et al., 1999;Deetjen and Powell, 2016;Eichhorn, 2008;Finn, 1999;Ridings and Gefen, 2006), although there are differences in share of posts depending on the topic and type of OHC. Specifically, OHCs dedicated to physical illness may have a larger share of informational posts and a smaller share of emotional posts, relative to OHCs dedicated to mental health conditions (Deetjen and Powell, 2016). ...
Introduction:
Moderated online health communities (OHCs) are digital platforms that provide a means for patients with similar medical conditions to communicate with each other under the supervision of healthcare professionals.
Aims:
To examine the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on content and type of posts published in two moderated OHCs - eating disorders and depression/anxiety - by comparing categorizations of posts written before vs. after the lockdown, and about vs. not about the pandemic.
Methods:
Posts were retrieved from Camoni, the first Israeli medical social network (January-June 2017, March-May 2020). A total of 1475 posts were analyzed. Of them, 802 posts were written before and 680 were written during the first lockdown. Posts were divided into two main categories: informational and emotional, and into fourteen subcategories.
Results:
Before the pandemic, the eating disorders OHC was characterized as primarily emotional (emotional: 66.7%, informational: 45.4%) and the depression/anxiety OHC as primarily informational (emotional: 49.8%, informational: 65.8%) (χ2 = 31.6, p < 0.001). During the lockdown, there was a transition in the eating disorders community, from primarily emotional to primarily informational communication (emotional: 46.1%, informational: 71.7%) (χ2 = 30.3, p < 0.001). In both OHCs, only about one in six posts written during the lockdown was related to the pandemic. There were only minimal differences in subcategorization of posts written before vs. after the outbreak (e.g., searching for medical information was more common during the pandemic: χ2 = 40.9, p < 0.001), as well as about vs. not about the pandemic (e.g., sharing negative emotions was more common when writing about the pandemic: χ2 = 4.1, p = 0.43).
Conclusion:
During the first lockdown, people with eating disorders have increased their use of OHCs as sources of informational (as opposed to emotional) support, but the overall impact of the pandemic on the content of posts written in the examined OHCs was minimal, suggesting that OHCs have not changed their function as a valuable means of providing emotional and informational support for people with mental difficulties.
... Depuis les années 2000, plusieurs études portant sur les plateformes de soutien social en ligne destinées à des personnes vivant avec une maladie chronique ont montré que les soutiens demandés ou offerts sur ces plateformes renvoient principalement au soutien informationnel et au soutien émotionnel (Eichhorn 2008 ;Fukkink 2011 ;Mo et Coulson 2008). Centré sur le partage d'informations, de conseils ou de recommandations, souvent afin de prendre des décisions ou de résoudre des problèmes (Finn 1999), le soutien informationnel définit un cadre interactionnel relativement formel, associé à l'interaction de services bénéficiaire/professionnel. Il s'articule autour de l'expression d'un besoin de soutien (question, souhait, demande), et de réponse(s) à ce besoin, que ce soit par l'évaluation la situation vécue par le demandeur ou par la formulation d'un conseil, par le partage d'une information, ou par les deux à la fois (Gauducheau et Marcoccia 2011). ...
... Depuis les années 2000, plusieurs études portant sur les plateformes de soutien social en ligne destinées à des personnes vivant avec une maladie chronique ont montré que les soutiens demandés ou offerts sur ces plateformes renvoient principalement au soutien informationnel et au soutien émotionnel (Eichhorn 2008 ;Fukkink 2011 ;Mo et Coulson 2008). Centré sur le partage d'informations, de conseils ou de recommandations, souvent afin de prendre des décisions ou de résoudre des problèmes (Finn 1999), le soutien informationnel définit un cadre interactionnel relativement formel, associé à l'interaction de services bénéficiaire/professionnel. Il s'articule autour de l'expression d'un besoin de soutien (question, souhait, demande), et de réponse(s) à ce besoin, que ce soit par l'évaluation la situation vécue par le demandeur ou par la formulation d'un conseil, par le partage d'une information, ou par les deux à la fois (Gauducheau et Marcoccia 2011). ...
Turbide, O., Cherba, M., & Denault, V. (2020). Réagir au dévoilement de soi dans un forum de discussions pour les personnes vivant avec un cancer: une approche interactionelle [Responding to self-disclosure in a discussion forum for people living with cancer: an interactional approach]. Corpus, 21. Retrieved from http://journals.openedition.org/corpus/4987
... Las comunidades virtuales (CVA) creadas en torno a temas de salud son un fenómeno relativamente novedoso. Las primeras publicaciones que aportan datos sobre ellas surgen en el ámbito de las ciencias sociales (antropología, psicología y sociología de la salud) a mediados de los años noventa (Finn, 1999;Salem, Bogat & Reid, 1997). En la actualidad, la mayoría de las investigaciones sobre CVA siguen elaborándose desde estas disciplinas y siguen focalizadas en experiencias del ámbito cultural anglosajón (EEUU y Reino Unido). ...
En este libro se presentan trabajos de la III Conferencia Internacional de Psicología Comunitaria celebrada en Puebla, México. Los temas incluyen: a) bases teóricas, metas y valores de la disciplina, b) formación en servicio, c) identidad, diversidad y exclusión, d)violencia, e) comunidad y tecnología, e) salud y f) organizaciones y evaluación de programas. El libro tiene trabajos en español y en inglés.
... Although recent studies have suggested that online self-help groups in healthcare contexts can enrich physical and mental health (e.g., Finn 1999;Mitchell et al. 2013;Scherr and Reinemann 2016), such research has tended to focus on the exchange of social support rather than online narratives specifically. The former is effective because it helps individuals overcome loneliness, which can increase the risk of various cognitive and mental health problems (Hawkley and Cacioppo 2010). ...
Previous research has found that online self-help groups related to healthcare can be therapeutic. These therapeutic effects often stem from social support conveyed by respondents; however, relevant studies appear to have overlooked the therapeutic potential of thread openers’ narratives. This article investigates thread openers’ narratives in 80 threads from four online self-help groups for anxiety and depression. The data analysis focuses on unique outcomes (UOs), referring to opportunities for therapeutic change to occur, which are conceptualized within the framework of innovative moments (IMs). The findings indicate that the presence of IMs is what makes online narratives therapeutic, but that they diminish gradually through interactions with respondents. This decline can arguably be attributed to respondents’ provision of unsolicited support, and this implies that most users do not find resolution for their problem through participating in online self-help groups.
... Desde os anos 80 assistiu-se, na internet, a um crescimento exponencial de grupos virtuais de entreajuda composto por pessoas que sofrem de doenças crónicas e/ou pessoas em longos períodos de reabilitação conforme indicado por Finn (1999 (2000): ...
O aparecimento da Web 2.0, a criação de comunidades virtuais de doentes (CVdD)e a interação entre os doentes no ciberespaço estão a revolucionar os sistemas desaúde . O presente estudo exploratório e descritivo, ana lisa este fenómeno emPortugal através um estudo qualitativo, pioneiro em Portugal, e apresenta as principaisrazões do aparecimento destas comunidades. Conclui-se que as principaismotivações para os doentes procurarem estas comunidades são: o tempo reduzidodas consultas com o médico; a falta e/ou incompreensão da informação transmitidano encontro interpessoal com o médico; a solidão; o estigma e a exclusão social. Éuma percepção unânime entre os doentes crónicos que participaram no estudo quea participação nesta s com unidades virtuais é complementar ao apoio e cont actopresencial; que o apoio virtual entre pares melhora a relação médico-doente, tornandoo doente mais participativo na toma da de decisão sobre a sua saúde e que sãogeradoras de uma melhor literacia em saúde . De acordo com os participantes noestudo as principais limitações para o desenvolvimento de comundiade s virtuaisincluem as seguintes noções: o digi tal divide e discrimina; os perigos deautomedicação; a possivel divulgação de informação incorrecta e a inexistência decritérios de qualidade para sítios Web sobre saúde.
... Despite this caveat, studies note that membership in online communities can provide emotional support resulting in enabling and empowering outcomes: for example, increasing self-esteem or prompting a positive outlook or readiness to act (Holbrey & Coulson 2013). Furthermore, online community members' overall emotional stability may be increased through the acts of expressing feelings, opening up and sharing traumatic or other experiences (Finn 1999). ...
... These findings indicate outcomes for OE spanning technological proficiency, communication demonstrations, research applications, and resource coordination. Additionally, clients use the internet to research social work services, participate in selfhelp groups, develop social networks, and learn more about presenting needs (Finn, 1999;Perron, Taylor, Glass, & Margerum-Leys, 2010;Waldman & Rafferty, 2008). Such developments in online activity have led to greater incorporation of OE in SWE. ...
Higher education continues to evolve responding to technological advances and growing economic challenges. Social work education has been slower to embrace emergent technologies than other fields in higher education. Contributing to this cautious approach may be historical controversy surrounding social work professionalization and practice. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are an important trend gathering recent attention in higher education. The contribution of MOOCs to social work education remains undetermined. This essay explores historical influences impacting current social work education, factors surrounding MOOC utilization, and the relevance of MOOCs for the future of social work education. We provide recommendations for embracing MOOC development in social work education through a deliberative strategy.
Purpose
What’s the flow path of knowledge sharing among members in online health community (OHC)? Exploration of this issue could shed light on mechanisms behind user knowledge sharing and interaction on OHC, but few studies have focused on it. This study is going to address this research gap and to provide richer support for subsequent knowledge management related research.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the core-periphery effect, this study combines content analysis and social network analysis to portray the paths of different types of social support for core and periphery users from social support perspective.
Findings
Results reveal that the core users follow a pattern of high-stage and low-stage users with distinct needs, while the path pattern of the edge user group mainly consists support from high-stage to low-stage users. Results show that there is apparent distinction between the paths of emotional and informational support between core and periphery users. For core users, emotional support flows from lower stage users to higher stage users, while informational support follows the opposite direction. For periphery users, the paths of emotional support and informational support are identical, with both flowing from higher stage users to lower stage users.
Originality/value
This study explores the flow paths of information support and emotional support for core and periphery users, and discovers the different patterns of these two types of users, providing theoretical guidance for platform administrators to manage users more efficiently and ensure the sustainable development of the platform.
Previous research has found that online self-help groups related to healthcare can have therapeutic benefits. These therapeutic effects often arise from the social support provided by respondents. However, relevant studies appear to have overlooked the therapeutic potential of thread openers’ narratives. This chapter investigates the narratives of thread openers in online self-help groups for anxiety and depression (OSGADs). The data analysis focuses on unique outcomes, which refer to opportunities for therapeutic change to occur and are conceptualized within the framework of innovative moments (IMs). The findings indicate that the presence of IMs is what makes online narratives therapeutic, but they gradually diminish through interactions with respondents. This decline can arguably be attributed to respondents providing unsolicited support, suggesting that most users do not find resolution for their problems through participating in online self-help groups.
There is an increasing number of cannabis users joining online cannabis support forums seeking social support for their withdrawal attempts. In this study we propose a research model focused on online cannabis support forums, hypothesizing about the effects of the textual features of the subject lines of discussion threads and thread-initiating messages on the quality and helpfulness of discussion threads. We tested the proposed model by analyzing 27,167 discussion threads downloaded from a large online support forum for cannabis quitters. The effectiveness of thread subject lines and the self-disclosure of emotion-related withdrawal symptoms in thread-initiating messages positively predicted the amount of informational and emotional support received in a thread. The self-disclosure of behavioral physical-related withdrawal symptoms and the diversity of self-disclosure information predicted informational support but not emotional support. Additionally, the amount of informational and emotional support received in a thread were positively associated with the thread initiator's continued discussions in the thread. Lastly, emotional support, but not informational support, predicted the overall helpfulness of a thread. Research and practical implications of the study's findings are discussed.
Wang, C. H. (2009). Internet Counseling, Internet Addiction, and Internet Mental Health. Proed.
王智弘（2009）。網路諮商、網路成癮與網路心理健康。學富文化。
According to Mayan (2009), being a qualitative researcher entails various activities “It is a pleasure to share life and learning with others to make sense of our reality jointly. Non-experimental qualitative research is not only conducted with people but also performed through people.” According to its many definitions, qualitative research entails significant interpersonal contact. Throughout the process of qualitative research, from strategy to implementation, effective communication is essential. While numerous new qualitative research tools have emerged over the last several decades, those linked to communication technology have emerged as the most important and impactful. Because there is little information available regarding communication technologies in qualitative research, this article aims to produce an overview of the new developing technologies currently being used. For that, the writer has reviewed several pieces of literature on qualitative research. As surfaced from the literature, qualitative research has transformed to new heights using modern techniques. Therefore, qualitative researchers must keep up to date with the latest technological advances to get maximum productivity.
Keywords: Hybrid methods, Management Research, Qualitative Research, Skype, Social Mobile Devices (SMD), VOIP, Teleconferencing
In online health communities (OHCs), patients can exchange social support through text-based communication. However, research on how various linguistic characteristics of patients' communication in these communities affect their social support outcomes remains limited. This study performs linguistic profiling on OHC participants based on a large dataset and empirically evaluates how lexical, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic features affect users' communication and social support outcomes. The results show that lexical richness in health-related vocabulary negatively correlates with receiving informational support. The readability and brevity of written texts have positive relationships with incoming social support. Writing longer sentences positively correlates with receiving informational support but negatively correlates with receiving emotional support. Expressing negative sentiment leads to higher chances of receiving both types of social support. The use of terms related to perception and body parts increases the chances of receiving emotional support. The use of terms related to perception words additionally correlates to higher chances of receiving informational support. To receive social supports, being logical in expressions is also critical. Furthermore, the relationships between shared health language and social support are determined by the word category and social support type.
Exchanging social support on online health communities (OHCs) can be beneficial to people's health, but the OHC characteristics that promote environments in which users feel socially supported are understudied. We develop a model that examines the mediating influence of OHC cohesiveness, altruism, and universality on the relationships between active and passive use and received OHC social support. Our findings indicate that social support can be derived from both active and passive use of the OHC. Although active use can directly stimulate received OHC social support, the relationship between passive use and social support is fully mediated by OHC group dynamics.
This article reviews empirical studies from 2008 to 2017 on the effects of participating in online communities. The review uses three databases: PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect. The criteria are: (1) online community aimed to provide support by and for people with a common problem; (2) the content of the sessions was determined by users; (3) members met via the Internet; (4) online community was available 24/7; (5) online community access was free and open to everyone with an Internet connection. Of the articles, 13 of 105 met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies reported positive changes: informational and emotional support, increased sense of belonging, less isolation, better medical understanding. Six articles also considered risks: the rise of the level of stress because of successes or failures of other users, the addiction to the forum and the consequent isolation from real relationships.
This paper examines shifting conceptualizations of sexual harassment, or el-taḥarrush el-ginsy, in Egypt. Through longitudinal data from online Arabic discussion boards and blog sites, as well as insights from interviews and participant observation of anti-sexual harassment organizations, it explores the range of meanings evident in the use of the term taḥarrush. A comparative approach was employed to assess changes in Egyptian discourses with those taking place across the region. Online data was collected using the search terms “taḥarrush ginsy” and “taḥarrush.” Google served as the primary search engine to locate discussion and blog posts from the years 2000-2012. Through this method, 233 unique posts were identified focused on el-taḥarrush el-ginsy. The data showed overwhelming public concern in the region about the molestation and rape of children until 2006. In October 2006, a shift occurred in Egyptian posts, tied to the Eid mob sexual harassment that took place in downtown Cairo. From that point on, taḥarrush in Egypt signified the sexual harassment of women in public space. Prior to the Eid mob sexual harassment event, the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights had begun a campaign to end everyday sexual harassment in the streets, which it called taḥarrush. Following the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, this activism continued with independent initiatives focused on community-based work, such as HarassMap. Throughout this time, the discourse was complicated by the connection of taḥarrush to more violent forms of sexual assault and rape, which was further evident following the Revolution. This connection of taḥarrush with more sexually violent practices aligns with prior meanings of taḥarrush, but it has also contributed to public resistance to the idea that taḥarrush signifies everyday sexual harassment that anti-sexual harassment initiatives seek to establish.
Objective: To study if and how online self‐help forums for individuals with schizophrenia are used.
Method: We analysed 1200 postings of 576 users in 12 international schizophrenia forums regarding communicative skills [fields of interest and self‐help mechanisms (SHM)].
Results: The forums were predominantly used by affected individuals, few relatives or friends. The fields of interest of the users concern daily problems of the illness like symptoms and emotional involvement with the illness. Self‐help mechanisms mostly used are disclosure and providing information. Emotional interaction e.g. empathy or gratitude were comparatively rare.
Conclusion: Individuals suffering from schizophrenia participate in online self‐help forums using the same SHM, discussing similar topics as do individuals with other psychiatric disorders as well as not affected relatives and caregivers. Therefore, this tool seems to be a useful approach to cope with alienation and isolation, albeit only a small number of schizophrenia forums are found in the Internet.
In recent years, the internet has provided new opportunities for individuals living with health-related problems to communicate with each other via online support groups. These groups offer many unique advantages, such as convenience, anonymity, and access to a diverse range of group members. However, there are potential disadvantages to their use, for example, misleading information. Within such groups, patients may talk about a range of issues and provide support to one another, particularly informational and emotional support. Through self-disclosure and empathic communication, members may feel able to share personal stories as well as help others. While robust evidence for their effectiveness is lacking, there is much qualitative and cross-sectional evidence suggesting that participation in online support groups may be beneficial. However, there is an urgent need for randomized controlled trials of pure peer-to-peer online support interventions across both physical and mental health conditions.
Like in all areas, virtual communities make their presence felt in the area of healthcare. Virtual communities play an important role in healthcare in terms of gathering information on healthcare, sharing of personal interests, and providing social support. Virtual communities provide a way for a group of peers to communicate with each other. In the health context, they may also be referred to as electronic support groups. They include forums, discussion boards on websites, mailing lists, chat rooms, or newsgroups.This chapter provides an overview and discussion of virtual communities in healthcare. In this chapter, the state of marketing implications in virtual communities in the health care sector is reviewed. The case study method was used. Data were collected from a website about healthcare, as content analysis. CRM, customization, marketing research and database, e-word of mouth, e-services, and promotions as marketing tools were used in the virtual community.The findings indicate that members of the reviewed website used forums heavily as a means of interactivity and gathering of health related and social based information.
The purpose of the chapter is to define health literacy and e-health literacy in the context of online health communities (OHCs). The chapter has three sections. The first section defines and discusses features of OHCs. The second section defines health literacy and e-health literacy, including domains of health literacy, which, as the authors argue, is necessary for a greater understanding of health literacy and OHCs. The third section applies the health literacy domains using The Biggest Loser League weight-loss OHC as a case study. A content analysis of posts was conducted between September 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Domains of health literacy were coded. Results show that functional literacy and interactive literacy were present in the OHC discussions to a greater degree than any of the other health literacy domains examined. Results are discussed in light of health literacy and e-health literacy, and practical implications of OHCs are explored.
In India the main economic activity of women has always been small scale enterprises through self-employment. The employment of women is one of the dual objectives of many self-employment programmes. The national commission on self-employed women for national development, recommended for the establishment of various programmes like IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Programme), STEP (Support to Training and Employment Programme), TRYSEM (Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment), DWACRA (Development of Women and Child in Rural Areas) Mahilapranganam etc.The present study is undertaken in order to find out whether women empowerment is alive in Vizag city or not. The varibales incorporated in the present study are Status of saving bank/post office account before joining SHG, Monthly saving habit by the respondents, Monthly savings account in the name, Respondent or family members taken loan from moneylenders before joining, Loan amount taken by the respondent / family members during the year just prior to joining the SHG, Annual interest charged by money lenders for loan taken by respondent / family members, Availing loan from money lenders even after joining SHG, Amount of loan taken by respondents from money lenders even after they joined in SHG, : Reasons for depend on money lenders for loan even after joining SHG, Suppose the SHG ceases to exit and there are no more SHG meetings, or you leave the SHG, still will you continue your regular savings in a bank/post office, Loan taken from/through SHG, Type of loan taken by the respondent, Number of times loan taken by the respondents for education, Amount of loan taken by the respondents for education purpose, Repayment of education loan taken by the respondents, Number of times loan taken by the respondents for health purpose, Repayment of loan taken for health purpose, The opinion of urban, rural and tribal SHG women on Awareness of legal rights, The opinion of urban, rural and tribal SHG women on Awareness of Government schemes, The opinion of urban, rural and tribal SHG women on awareness of social issues and problems and The opinion of urban, rural and tribal SHG women on participation in building programmes. The results revealed that above mentioned variables are critical and are of extreme importance for women empowerment.
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight the role of consumption communities as a self-help support group to ameliorate loneliness. The authors suggest that the self-help element of consumption communities has been overlooked because of a focus on communities pursuing hegemonic masculinity. Instead, the authors focus on a female-led and – dominated consumption community.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal ethnography was undertaken with the aim of understanding consumer behaviour in a “hyper-feminine” environment. Participant observation, depth interviews and netnography were carried out over five years within the Knitting community, focussing on an Irish Stitch ‘n’ Bitch group.
Findings
A dimension of consumption communities has been overlooked in the extant literature; this female-led and -dominated community functions as a self-help support group used as a “treatment” for loneliness. It also demonstrates all the characteristics of a support group.
Research limitations/implications
This study offers a framework with which new studies of community consumption can be examined or existing studies can be re-examined, through rather than cases of loneliness and self-help support groups.
Practical implications
Marketers have an opportunity to build supportive consumption communities that provide a safe space for support where commerce and brand-building can also occur. Groups aimed at ameliorating loneliness may wish to consider integration of the consumption community model.
Originality/value
Calls have been made for a reconceptualisation of consumption communities as current typologies seem inadequate. This paper responds with a critical examination through the lens of the self-help support group, while also taking steps towards resolving the gender imbalance in the consumption community literature. The paper explores loneliness, a previously underexamined motivator for consumption community membership.
Although stigma is widely accepted to be a multidimensional construct, the implications of its dimensions for social support warrant greater consideration. We conducted a meta-analysis of 31 content analyses to investigate the association between specific dimensions of stigma and the types of social support messages shared in health-related contexts online. Among health conditions where character stigma was greater, information, network, and tangible support were more prevalent. Physical stigma was associated with a higher prevalence of esteem support. Information, emotional, network, and tangible support were more prevalent among health conditions where concealable stigma was greater. Among health conditions where visible stigma was greater, information, and esteem support were more prevalent. Our study contributes to stigma and social support research by providing evidence that health-related stigma has multiple dimensions each with distinct implications for social support. More broadly, this project offers a framework that can be used to examine the ways in which social meanings of health conditions may be translated into digital behavior.
This article reviews empirical studies from 2008 to 2017 on the effects of participating in online communities. The review uses three databases: PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect. The criteria are: (1) online community aimed to provide support by and for people with a common problem; (2) the content of the sessions was determined by users; (3) members met via the Internet; (4) online community was available 24/7; (5) online community access was free and open to everyone with an Internet connection. Of the articles, 13 of 105 met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies reported positive changes: informational and emotional support, increased sense of belonging, less isolation, better medical understanding. Six articles also considered risks: the rise of the level of stress because of successes or failures of other users, the addiction to the forum and the consequent isolation from real relationships.
Previous studies have found that people with disabilities experience sexual othering in offline contexts. However, little is known about how they engage in sexual practices online. This chapter advances arguments on sexual othering and digital media use for sex(uality) by young people with physical disabilities. It draws on an ethnographic study conducted in a special school in the UK. The chapter explores how two physically disabled young men evade parental mediation in the home to find, view, and explore sex(uality) online. When digital media technologies are mediated through restrictive parental mediation, young people with physical disabilities can encounter an added layer to the sexual othering process. This is further complicated when their disability intersects with gender and sexuality.
While computer-mediated communication use and research are proliferating rapidly, findings offer contrasting images regarding the interpersonal character of this technology. Research trends over the history of these media are reviewed with observations across trends suggested so as to provide integrative principles with which to apply media to different circumstances. First, the notion that the media reduce personal influences—their impersonal effects—is reviewed. Newer theories and research are noted explaining normative “interpersonal” uses of the media. From this vantage point, recognizing that impersonal communication is sometimes advantageous, strategies for the intentional depersonalization of media use are inferred, with implications for Group Decision Support Systems effects. Additionally, recognizing that media sometimes facilitate communication that surpasses normal interpersonal levels, a new perspective on “hyperpersonal” communication is introduced. Subprocesses are discussed pertaining to receivers, senders, channels, and feedback elements in computer-mediated communication that may enhance impressions and interpersonal relations.
This paper examines electronic mail in organizational communication. Based on ideas about how social context cues within a communication setting affect information exchange, it argues that electronic mail does not simply speed up the exchange of information but leads to the exchange of new information as well. In a field study in a Fortune 500 company, we used questionnaire data and actual messages to examine electronic mail communication at all levels of the organization. Based on hypotheses from research on social communication, we explored effects of electronic communication related to self-absorption, status equalization, and uninhibited behavior. Consistent with experimental studies, we found that decreasing social context cues has substantial deregulating effects on communication. And we found that much of the information conveyed through electronic mail was information that would not have been conveyed through another medium.
A conceptual framework for research on lay helping strategies is presented, differentiating the strategies along two dimensions: their focus, individual or interpersonal, and their source, natural or supplemental. A typology of characteristics of commonly used lay helping methods is proposed, and implications for intervention design and research are discussed.
Using participant-observation and discourse analysis, this study explores the communication occurring on the Breast Cancer List, an on-line discussion group which continues to grow in membership and activity. Issues discussed include the evolution of the List, who participates, what topics are discussed. Three major dimensions are identified: exchange of information, social support, and personal empowerment. Social support via computer is compared with face-to-face groups. Empowerment centers on enhanced decision-making and preparation for new illness-related experiences. The influence of gender is considered in terms of communicative style and limitations of access. It is concluded that the List fulfills the functions of a community, with future concerns about information control and the potential to enhance patient-provider understanding.
The growth of the self-help movement and the rapid expansion of computer communications has led to a variety of computer- based self-help/mutual aid (CSHMA) groups, including computer- based self-help groups for those with issues related to recovery from sexual abuse. Preliminary data are analyzed to determine the extent of use, participation patterns, and norms of these groups. The potential advantages of CSHMA groups for sex abuse survivors include: providing greater access to support, diffusing dependency needs, meeting the needs of those with esoteric concerns, reducing barriers related to social status cues, encouraging participation of reluctant members, promoting relational communication, and enhancing communication of those with interpersonal difficult~es. Potential disadvantages, including destructive interactions, lack of clear and accountable leadership, superficial self disclosure, promoting social isolation, limited access to noncomputer-using populations, and lack of research about benefits and user satisfaction are also discussed.
This article addresses the implementation and early use of a computer bulletin board for families affected by hemophilia. Trends involving telemedicine and managed health care make investigating new forms of telecommunication within an illness-related community essential. As a result, a text-based com- puter bulletin board, Hemophiliacs In Good Health Network (HIGHnet) was created and its early use studied. Six research questions are posed that address challenges encountered during creation of the system, factors influencing early use, and the functions of postings during early use. Creation of the board entailed design, establishment of sites and users, equipment procurement and distribution, and training. Early use results indicate that type of training has a significant effect on the number of postings sent. However, the demographics of users (age, income, education, sex), the type of user (person with illness, spouse of, caregiver of, etc.), and the site's equipment needs do not influence early use.
The Internet could change the lives of average citizens as much as did the telephone in the early part of the 20th century and television in the 1950s and 1960s. Re- searchers and social critics are debating whether the Internet is improving or harming participation in com- munity life and social relationships. This research exam- ined the social and psychological impact of the lnternet on 169 people in 73 households during their first i to 2 years on-line. We used longitudinal data to examine the effects of the Internet on social involvement and psycho- logical well-being. In this sample, the Internet was used extensively for communication. Nonetheless, greater use of the Internet was associated with declines in partici- pants'communication with family members in the house- hold, declines in the size of their social circle, and in- creases in their depression and loneliness. These findings have implications for research, for public policy, and for the design of technology.
Among married couples, the effect of the controllability of stressful events was tested as a predictor of the type of social support communications provided and preferred. Sixty married individuals disclosed stressful events to their spouse. Controllability of the stress was rated by observers. The Social Support Behavior Code was used to assess the frequency with which each of five types of social support was provided by the spouse. Action-promoting support (information) was provided most frequently when the stressed person had high control over the event. Of the five types of support communications assessed, only information was evaluated differently in high- and low-controllable situations. Both controllability by the support recipient and controllability by his or her spouse were relevant to support evaluations. Results provide limited support for the optimal matching model proposed by Cutrona and Russell (Cutrona, 1990; Cutrona & Russell, 1990).
This article investigates a new communication medium—public computer conferencing—by separately and jointly analyzing two basic aspects of human communication: (1) content, the extent to which such systems can support socioemotional communication, and (2) connectivity, communication patterns among system users. Results indicate that (1) computer-mediated communication systems can facilitate a moderate exchange of socioemotional content and (2) basic network roles did not generally differ in percentage of socioemotional content. Some fundamental issues in analyzing content and networks in computer-mediated systems, such as structural equivalence versus cohesion network approaches, are discussed in light of these results.
Considers (a) the organization, composition, and assessment of adult behavior-therapy groups; (b) the monitoring of change in and out of the group; (c) evaluating and facilitating individual treatment; and (d) working toward group goals. Experience and research in specific types of groups (assertive training, parent training, weight loss, institutional therapy, and couples' communication training) are described. (18 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Informal reports on "the use of people with a problem to help other people who have the same problem in more severe form… point to improvement in the givers of help rather than [in] the recipients." The use of this principle may be especially appropriate for low-income clients and students. Cautions and conditions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
From grief counseling to organizing an on-line “Seniors march” on health coverage, computers have given older adults a way to participate in contemporary culture while acquiring a new network of emotional peer support.
Drawing on two recent theories, this article proposes interaction hypotheses involving the joint effects of salient group versus individual identity and long-term versus short-term group membership on the social, interpersonal, and intellectual responses of group members collaborating via computer-mediated communication. Participants from institutions in two countries used computer-mediated communication under various conditions. Results indicate that some conditions of computer-mediated communication use by geographically dispersed partners render effects systematically superior to those obtained in other mediated conditions and greater or lesser than effects obtained through face-to-face interaction.
From introduction: "Daddy is saying `Holy moly!' to his computer again!" "Those words have become a family code for the way my virtual community has infiltrated our real world. My seven-year-old daughter knows that her father congregates with a family of invisible friends who seem to gather in his computer. Sometimes he talks to them, even if nobody else can see them. And she knows that these invisible friends sometimes show up in the flesh, materializing from the next block or the other side of the planet. "Since the summer of 1985, for an average of two hours a day, seven days a week, I've been plugging my personal computer into my telephone and making contact with the WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link)--a computer conferencing system that enables people around the world to carry on public conversations and exchange private electronic mail (e-mail). The idea of a community accessible only via my computer screen sounded cold to me at first, but I learned quickly that people can feel passionately about e-mail and computer conferences. I've become one of them. I care about these people I met through my computer, and I care deeply about the future of the medium that enables us to assemble. "I'm not alone in this emotional attachment to an apparently bloodless technological ritual. Millions of people on every continent also participate in the computer-mediated social groups known as virtual communities, and this population is growing fast. Finding the WELL was like discovering a cozy little world that had been flourishing without me, hidden within the walls of my house; an entire cast of characters welcomed me to the troupe with great merriment as soon as I found the secret door. Like others who fell into the WELL, I soon discovered that I was audience, performer, and scriptwriter, along with my companions, in an ongoing improvisation. A full-scale subculture was growing on the other side of my telephone jack, and they invited me to help create something new."
Following a brief overview of the stressful life events-illness model and its implications for intervention, this article highlights the role of social support as a resource for resisting stress-induced illness and disability. It identifies three different connotative meanings that have been assigned to the social support construct, and describes their empirical operationalizations in several recent studies. Specifically, the social integration/participation formulation, the social network approach, and the social intimacy measurement strategy are described and contrasted. Within the latter approach, one study that illuminated types of informal helping behaviors is discussed in greater detail. A review of possible mechanisms whereby social support accomplishes its health-protective impact is also offered, and two types of planned interventions involving the mobilization or optimization of social support are spotlighted. The article concludes with ideas about ways that professionals can safeguard the natural helping skills of citizens and achieve an appropriate balance between formal and informal systems of service delivery in the health and human services fields.
Despite the increasing of use of support groups to respond to the needs of people dealing with crises, life transitions, and chronic conditions, there is no conceptual framework to guide practice and research. On the basis of a review of the literature, this article distinguishes support groups from self-help and treatment groups. It then proposes an open systems model for understanding the factors that affect support groups, for guiding interventions, and for evaluating their outcomes. Four conceptual dimensions are described: (1) environmental conditions (resources and constraints), (2) participant group characteristics (size, composition, and technology), (3) group conditions (goals, structural form, and development), and (4) outcomes (positive and negative effects for members, leaders, and organizations; group problems; and ethical and legal issues). Findings from a pilot study of support group practice based on this framework are presented and discussed.
Members of 18 self-help groups in Canada were surveyed as to the benefits of participation in mutual help groups and the roles for professionals in such groups. Three distinctions are made among mutual help groups: (1) those dealing with loss-transition (L-T), (2) those with members one step removed (OSR) from the problem, and (3) groups for stress, coping and support (SC&S). Members in OSR groups feel they benefit significantly more from participation than SC&S group members, while many L-T members feel they could get along well without the group if they had to. Members of SC&S groups tend to favor indirect involvement of professionals and see professional help and mutual help as complementary, more than do members of L-T and OSR groups. The traditional health care system is found to ignore the needs of L-T and OSR group members; mutual help thus provides a critical source of support and education for these people.
Childbirth by cesarean, especially when unexpected, can be a source of acute emotional distress, stemming from unmet expectations for childbirth and the experience of major surgery, among other factors. Some women experience negative feelings months or years after the birth. A difficult cesarean birth experience has potential negative effects on a woman's relationship with her spouse or infant. Cesarean support groups play an important role in the prevention of emotional distress by facilitating the resolution of the birth experiences and allowing women to plan and prepare for more positive birth experiences in the future.
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Yalom, I. (1985). Theory and practice of group psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books. About the Author Jerry Finn, PhD, is associate professor, Department of Social Work, University of New Hampshire, Murkland Hall, 15 Library Way, Durham, NH, 03824; e-mail: jfinn@cisunix.unh.edu. Accepted November 30, 1998