A Comparison of Two Types of Social Support for Mothers of Mentally Ill Children

Abstract

PROBLEM-The purpose of this analysis was to compare social support offered by two telehealth nursing interventions for mothers of children with serious mental illnesses. METHODS-A randomized, controlled, quantitative investigation is underway to test two support interventions, using the telephone (TSS) or Internet (WEB).Qualitative description was used to analyze data generated during telehealth interventions. FINDINGS-The behaviors and attitudes of children were challenging for the mothers to manage. Mothers' emotional reactions included fear, frustration, concern, and guilt. They sought to be advocates for their children. The nurses provided emotional, informational, and appraisal support. TSS mothers were passive recipients, while WEB mothers had to choose to participate.CONCLUSIONS-Mothers in both interventions shared similar concerns and sought support related to their child's problems.

Examining Digital Differences: Parents' Online Activities

“…Evidence of instrumental informal information sharing such as using other mothers' experiences as a frame of reference was found as well as formal information sharing such as posting expert or professional resources. Another study similarly identified emotional support, tangible aid, and information as three types of support that parents found online (Scharer et al, 2009). Based on this evidence, in the current study, parents' information seeking and social activities on the Internet will be conceptualized as online resources.…”

“…The Internet can be conceptualized as an online ecology, supplying families with needed resources such as information found on parenting websites or social support found in online forums (Martin & Robinson, 2007;Walker & Greenhow, 2010). Several descriptive studies have found that discussion boards, parenting websites, and blogs were useful contexts for parents and provided a virtual space for parents to connect and support one another (Drentea & Moren-Cross, 2005;Madge & O'Connor, 2006;McDaniel, Coyne & Holmes, 2011;Miyata, 2002;Scharer et al, 2009). A systems approach also implies that children will benefit when parents find resources online (Brady & Guerin, 2010).…”

The role of digital communication in patient–clinician communication for NHS providers of specialist clinical services for young people [the Long-term conditions Young people Networked Communication (LYNC) study]: a mixed-methods study

“…[231][232][233][234]239,248 The majority of studies were conducted in the USA (17 studies 230,231,234,236,[238][239][240][241][242][243][244]246,248,255 ); other main locations were Australia (three studies 227,228,235 ), the Netherlands (three studies 245,247,249 ), Sweden (three studies 233,237,250 ) and the UK (two studies 232,256 ).…”

“…However, as authors may have described similar technologies using different names, there may be some overlap between categories. Videoconferencing or video consultation was the most frequently used tool (14 studies 227,228,233,235,236,238,[240][241][242][243][244]246,248,253 ), followed by e-mails or web messaging systems (13 studies 223,[229][230][231][232]234,[237][238][239]245,247,249,250,254,256 ). Other categories were web chat (two studies 239,255 ) and SMSs (one study 224 ).…”

“…Videoconferencing or video consultation was the most frequently used tool (14 studies 227,228,233,235,236,238,[240][241][242][243][244]246,248,253 ), followed by e-mails or web messaging systems (13 studies 223,[229][230][231][232]234,[237][238][239]245,247,249,250,254,256 ). Other categories were web chat (two studies 239,255 ) and SMSs (one study 224 ). The main categories of health-care professionals that were involved in the use of DCCs were therapists or CBT therapists (psychotherapist/psychologist) (11 studies 235,238,[240][241][242][243][244]251,[253][254][255], physicians (eight studies 223,[227]...…”