Second life avatars as extensions of social and physical bodies in people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Best, Kirsty; Butler, Stephanie

doi:10.1080/10304312.2013.794190

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Previous research has explored the potential for technological innovation (e.g. the use of avatars in online platforms) to reduce social isolation in these populations [37] though the specific approaches taken in these studies (i.e. moving around a virtual world) can lead to disorientation and nausea.…”

Section: Social Isolation and Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during lockdown and a global pandemic

Brewer

Stratton

2020

Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior

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Objective: : Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a condition characterised by extreme fatigue that is not explained by other medical conditions, places individuals at greater risk of COVID-19. The condition is also associated with a lack of social support and social isolation. These individuals may, therefore, have a unique experience of lockdown and the pandemic. The present study investigates the experiences of those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: : In the present study, we identified fifty online forum (Reddit) posts, discussing the personal lived experience of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during lockdown and the global pandemic. These posts were subject to inductive thematic analysis. Results: : Four themes were extracted from the data. These were (i) Symptom Change, (ii) Social Interactions, (iii) Comparing Experiences, and (iv) Positive Consequences. Themes highlighted both positive and negative experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, whilst some people reported more severe symptoms, lockdown also provided more accessible opportunities to interact (i.e. online videocalls). Conclusion: : Chronic Fatigue Syndrome influenced physical, psychological, and social experiences, with both positive and negative outcomes of the lockdown and pandemic apparent. Findings have the potential to support those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and those who experience post-COVID-19 fatigue.

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Section: Social Isolation and Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome during lockdown and a global pandemic

Brewer

Stratton

2020

Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior

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“…SL’s technology allows users to build anything imaginable, explore various lands and from seaside towns to educational institutions, speak with other users, and purchase products (Atkinson, 2008). As users explore different aspects of SL, they may come into contact with organizations who have integrated their services into this world, a few of which include implementing learning activities for distance education (Hartley, Ludlow, & Duff, 2015), simulating medical activities to show patients what they will experience before undergoing procedures (Best & Butler, 2013; Hudson, Taylor, Kozachik, Shaefer, & Wilson, 2015), reducing speech anxiety through virtual world workshops (Guzel & Aydin, 2014), and Starwood brand hotels building virtual hotels for users to stay in (Jana, 2006; Lynch, 2006). Freedom to explore anything in SL and the possibility of coming into contact with outside organizations suggests that it is place where its users must figure out what to do as they immerse themselves in SL, just like they would in real life.…”

Section: Theoretical Conceptualizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avatar Creation: The Social Construction of “Beauty” in Second Life

Mills

2017

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

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Rooted in the Theory of Social Construction of Reality and informed by media and gender portrayal and virtual communities research, this study examines how beauty is socially constructed in Second Life. Specifically, a content analysis of 360 still images of female avatars was conducted to understand how people construct beauty in a virtual community. Findings suggest that people chose gender stereotypical images even when they have the free choice to create any avatar they desire. Trendy and sex kitten/sensual beauty types were the most-portrayed beauty types. Almost all the female avatars had a perfect body size. And more than 80% of the avatars coded in this study had light skin. In addition, this study found a significant difference in beauty type among avatars with different amounts of body coverage and a significant difference in beauty type among different types of products. However, no significant difference was found in beauty type between avatars with different skin color nor was there a significant difference in beauty type among avatars with different body sizes. Overall, this study provides valuable insights in understanding how beauty is socially constructed in the virtual world and advances the theory of social construction of reality in today's dynamic environment.

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“…For wheelchair users, this may be just a question of avatar design; however, for others, such as people with cognitive, vision, or hearing impairment who require accessibility measures that may force disclosure, particularly if they are unavailable, disability remains at the forefront. As Best and Butler (2013) found, the role of the physical body can act to limit the actions of the avatar body by making it difficult for a person to interact with the technology. Before Second Life activated its voice communication, deaf people were able to use the network easily through the text interface; however, they were excluded when the new technology was deployed and residents increasingly moved to the new communications medium (Carr, 2009).…”

Section: Identity Avatars and Disabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%