scholarly journals Social support in cyberspace: A content analysis of communication within a Huntington's disease online support group

2007 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil S. Coulson ◽  
Heather Buchanan ◽  
Aimee Aubeeluck
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group

Content Analysis and User Characteristics of a Smartphone-Based Online Support Group for People Living with HIV

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 746-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabor E. Flickinger ◽  
Claire DeBolt ◽  
Erin Wispelwey ◽  
Colleen Laurence ◽  
Erin Plews-Ogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Online Support ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
User Characteristics ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Living With Hiv

The Online Support Group as a Community: A Thematic Content Analysis of an Online Support Group for Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Haik ◽  
Kevin Kashanchi ◽  
Sarah Tajran ◽  
Cameron Heilbronn ◽  
Catherine Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Subglottic Stenosis ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Thematic Content Analysis ◽  
Thematic Content ◽  
Personal Experiences

Objective: Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a rare disease with few local resources for individuals to use. With the explosive growth of online social networking, platforms such as Facebook possess compelling potential to facilitate user-driven sharing of health information and peer support. This study was performed to better understand the content shared in a busy online community for individuals with iSGS. Methods: The largest online community (OC) for individuals with iSGS, Living With Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis (LwiSGS), was examined. A thematic content analysis of the communications shared in February of 2018 was performed. A conventional qualitative analysis model was employed to analyze aggregated data. The data were then codified. Results: Analysis demonstrated that communications primarily encompassed three major thematic elements: (1) information sharing; (2) emotional support, expression, and experience sharing; and (3) community building. Positively toned posts grossly overshadowed negatively toned posts by almost a factor of 3. A significant portion of group members requested information from their peers, suggesting a high level of trust toward the resources provided in this group, even those involving a surgical procedure or medication. Conclusion: LwiSGS is a forum for patients with a rare chronic condition to share informational resources, personal experiences, and emotional support, as well as a community with their peers. These data suggest that LwiSGS could be a powerful resource for individuals with iSGS to share information, personal experiences, or emotional support.

scholarly journals Bonding in Sisterhood: A Qualitative Study of a Virtual, Health-Related Program for Women of Color Amid COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 318-318
Author(s):  
Shanae Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Women Of Color ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Health Related

Abstract My Sister’s Keeper is an online education and support group created by women of color in response to disproportionate stresses related to COVID-19 experienced by women of color. The current study aims to examine the Stage 2 evidence that an online support group formed by members of the community may help mediate inequity-related stressors and increase receptiveness to health-related recommendations. To begin to develop this evidence, a thematic analysis of 8 in-depth individual interviews was performed. Resulting themes included: 1) feeling empowered; 2) solidarity in sisterhood (e.g., shared ownership of a virtual community); 3) being focused (on women of color) yet being inclusive; 4) currency of knowledge (e.g., responsibility to share knowledge with others); and 5) preferring virtual accessibility to stay connected. Preliminary data suggest that social support offered through an online platform dedicated to women of color can promote health during the pandemic and possibly beyond.

A Content Analysis of an Online Support Group for Survivors of Sexual Violence

2013 ◽  
pp. 85-105
Author(s):  
Jennifer Yeager
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Common Support ◽  
The Social ◽  
Tangible Support

Surviving sexual violence has been described as one of the most traumatic life experiences, and social support is an extremely important coping strategy for survivors. With the rapidly increasing number of available online support communities, understanding exactly what kinds of support survivors need in the context on online social support groups is essential. This chapter presents a study of the types and extent of social support posts exchanged by members of an online social support group for survivors of sexual violence. The Social Support Behavior Code framework was used to code 755 messages that were posted over a 7-day period. Overall, emotional support (42.6%) was the most common support contained in posts, followed by information (21.2%), esteem (20.9%), network (13.1%), and tangible support (2.2%).

Social Support in a Virtual Community: Analysis of a Clinic-Affiliated Online Support Group for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3087-3099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabor E. Flickinger ◽  
Claire DeBolt ◽  
Ava Lena Waldman ◽  
George Reynolds ◽  
Wendy F. Cohn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Community Analysis ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

Investigation of the “alternative” effects of an online support group for mental health problems among Japanese adults: A cross-sectional study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Kobori ◽  
Naoki Yoshinaga
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Online Support ◽  
Online Support Groups ◽  
Online Support Group ◽  
Usage Frequency

BACKGROUND Owing to the rapid development of social networking services, online support groups vary widely both in goal and structure. Several studies have shown the potential effectiveness of online support groups, such as reducing psychological distress (eg depression) among individuals with mental health problems. However, online support groups often do not aim at effectiveness regarding distress-relief-related outcomes. OBJECTIVE The U2plus.jp (hereinafter U2plus) is an online support group for individuals with depression; in it, people support each other in structured ways while engaging in simple cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises. This study aimed to examine if usage frequency of the U2plus functions are associated with decreased stigma and increased consumer. METHODS In total, 355 U2plus users took part in an online survey. They were asked what therapy they had ever received, how often they logged into it and used each of its functions, and completed the following questionnaires: The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Perceived Devaluation Discrimination Scale, and the General Help Seeking Scale. RESULTS Regarding the therapy they received, 89.3% (n=308) had been on medication for mental health problems, and 67.5% (n=233) had received psychotherapy or mental health counselling. Regarding the usage frequency, approximately 20% of the participants signed in to U2plus and used its functions more than once a week. The usage frequency of U2plus functions was not associated with perceived stigma. However, usage frequency of some functions was correlated to help seeking intentions from formal sources (eg doctors and psychologists). Moreover, 90% of the participants had a history of medication for their mental health. Additionally, the more depressed participants were, the more frequently they used U2plus. CONCLUSIONS It was suggested that online support groups may serve as an alternative treatment option for those who are already undergoing pharmacological treatment and are willing to seek help from whatever source they deem helpful.

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