Communication of Social Support in Computer-Mediated Groups for People With Disabilities

Braithwaite, Dawn O.; Waldron, Vincent R.; Finn, Jerry

doi:10.1207/s15327027hc1102_2

Cited by 442 publications

(414 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…(38) Contributors also posted educational content, including research items, to the board and reported educating people (e.g. health and social care professionals) as they encountered them.…”

Section: Raising Awarenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potential disadvantages of online support groups include: 'flaming' or verbal harassment [32]; reading about other members' illness progression [33]; dealing with support group activity that is too high [27] or too low [34]; and variable quality of medical information [35]. However, analyses of online support group postings have revealed that the majority of messages are not erroneous or harmful [36,37] and analysis of message posts have been used to demonstrate the social support [34,38] and self-help [39,40] therapeutic functions of such groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These groups may be more accessible for people with NMDs and their carers when compared with other services. For example, accessing an online support group may be easier for those with physical disabilities than traditional face-to-face groups [38,41]. Such groups may also be beneficial for carers, who may have difficulty accessing face-to-face support groups due to their caring commitments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of an online support group for neuromuscular disorders: a thematic analysis of message postings

Meade

Buchanan

Coulson

2017

Disability and Rehabilitation

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Purpose: People affected by neuromuscular disorders can experience adverse psychosocial consequences and difficulties accessing information and support. Online support groups provide new opportunities for peer support. The aim of this study was to understand how contributors used the message board function of a newly-available neuromuscular disorders online support group. Message postings (n=1,951) from the first five months of the message board of a newly-formed online support group for neuromuscular disorders hosted by a charitable organisation were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Members created a sense of community through disclosing personal information, connecting with people with similar illness experiences or interests, welcoming others, and sharing aspirations for the development of a resourceful community. Experiences, emotional reactions and support were shared in relation to: delayed diagnosis; symptom interpretation; illness management and progression; the isolating impact of rare disorders; and the influence of social and political factors on illness experiences. Methods: Conclusions:This study provided a novel insight into individuals' experiences of accessing a newly-available online support group for rare conditions hosted by a charitable organisation. The findings highlight how the online support group provided an important peer support environment for members to connect with others, exchange information and support, and engender discussion on political and social issues unique to living with often-rare neuromuscular disorders. Online support groups may therefore provide an important and easily accessible support outlet for people with neuromuscular disorders as well as a platform for empowering members to raise awareness about the impact of living with these conditions. Further research is needed to examine member motivations for using such groups and any effects of participation in greater detail.

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Section: Raising Awarenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The use of an online support group for neuromuscular disorders: a thematic analysis of message postings

Meade

Buchanan

Coulson

2017

Disability and Rehabilitation

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“…A number of content analyses have been conducted to examine the types of support messages shared in computer-mediated contexts (e.g., Dunham et al, 1998;Eichhorn, 2008;Keating, 2013). Informational support and emotional support are typically the most common types of support messages found in these studies (Braithwaite et al, 1999;Coulson, Buchanan, & Aubeeluck, 2007;Ginossar, 2008;Keating, 2013).…”

Section: Social Support and Computer-mediated Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although several content analyses have documented the explicit types of social support messages shared in computer-mediated contexts (Braithwaite et al, 1999;Ginossar, 2008;Keating, 2013), the unique implications associated with the reduced social cues available in these settings warrant additional attention (Caplan & Turner, 2007;Walther & Parks, 2002). In text-based environments where many of the nonverbal cues present in face-to-face interaction are reduced or eliminated, features of interaction may play a particularly important role in influencing support perceptions.…”

Section: Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Language Style Matching as a Predictor of Perceived Social Support in Computer-Mediated Interaction Among Individuals Coping With Illness

Rains

2015

Communication Research

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Several forms of computer-mediated communication (e.g., online support groups, blogs, social network sites) have been shown to be important resources for social support among individuals coping with illness. The reported study attempts to better understand social support processes in these settings by examining the implications of language style matching-a form of interpersonal coordination involving the degree to which speakers match one another's use of function words (e.g., articles, prepositions, pronouns). Language style matching among a sample of health bloggers and their readers over a 3-month period was tested as a predictor of bloggers' perceptions of support available from their readers. The results show that language style matching contributed to bloggers' perceptions that their readers are willing and able to serve as a resource for specific forms of social support.

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Computer‐Mediated Support for Health Outcomes

Wright

2015

The Handbook of the Psychology of Communication Technology

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Communication of Social Support in Computer-Mediated Groups for People With Disabilities

Cited by 442 publications

References 47 publications

The use of an online support group for neuromuscular disorders: a thematic analysis of message postings

The use of an online support group for neuromuscular disorders: a thematic analysis of message postings

Language Style Matching as a Predictor of Perceived Social Support in Computer-Mediated Interaction Among Individuals Coping With Illness

Computer‐Mediated Support for Health Outcomes

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