Benefiting from Social Capital in Online Support Groups: An Empirical Study of Cancer Patients

Abstract This study examined cancer patients’ (N = 355, 65.4 % female, Mage = 54.35, SDage = 11.25) perceived emotional and informational support from a variety of interpersonal and media sources. We recruited patients from cancer patient association websites and online cancer forums and asked them to report to what extent they received support from interpersonal and media sources. Patients rated professional sources (e. g., oncologists) and personal sources (e. g., family) as nearly equal sources of emotional support; however, professional sources were rated as significantly greater sources of informational support. Although family and oncologists were the most mentioned interpersonal sources of support, they were also the most mentioned disappointing sources. Of the media sources, online interaction sources (e. g., online support groups) were rated as nearly equivalent sources of emotional support as interpersonal sources. That patients perceived emotional support, not only informational support, from various media sources is promising since interpersonal sources can be disappointing to some patients.

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Can online support groups address psychological morbidity of cancer patients? An artificial intelligence based investigation of prostate cancer trajectories

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0229361 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. e0229361 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Achini Adikari ◽

Daswin de Silva ◽

Weranja K. B. Ranasinghe ◽

Tharindu Bandaragoda ◽

Oshadi Alahakoon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Support Groups ◽

Psychological Morbidity ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups

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Facilitating online support groups for cancer patients: the learning experience of psycho-oncology clinicians

Psycho-Oncology ◽

10.1002/pon.1791 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (8) ◽

pp. 832-840 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Joanne E. Stephen ◽

Glenda Christie ◽

Karen Flood ◽

Mitch Golant ◽

Michelle Rahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Support Groups ◽

Learning Experience ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups

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GEORGIAN EMIGRANTS’ ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS: EXPLORING SELF-PRESENTATION AND SOCIAL CAPITAL ON FACEBOOK

Proceedings of the 35th International Academic Conference, Barcelona ◽

10.20472/iac.2018.935.034 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Tekla Nemanishvili

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Support Groups ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Self Presentation

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Examining Social Capital, Social Support, and Language Use in an Online Depression Forum: Social Network and Content Analysis

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/17365 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. e17365

Author(s):

Wenjing Pan ◽

Bo Feng ◽

Cuihua Shen

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Capital ◽

Social Network ◽

Support Groups ◽

Language Use ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Analysis Method ◽

Communication Accommodation

Background The use of peer-to-peer online support groups and communities has grown into a social phenomenon. Many people use online support groups and communities to seek and provide social support. It is essential to examine how users’ participation behaviors may contribute to different outcomes. Objective This study aimed to (1) use the structural positions of online depression forum users in their reply network to predict received support and (2) examine their language use reflecting their health conditions. Methods A total of 2061 users and their 62,274 replies posted on a depression forum from July 2004 to July 2014 were extracted using a web crawler written in Python. The content of the forum users’ posts and replies and their reply patterns were examined. A social network analysis method was used to build the reply networks of users. The computerized text analysis method was used to measure features of the forum users’ language styles. Results Forum users’ bridging social capital (operationalized as network betweenness) was positively associated with the level of communication accommodation in their received replies (P=.04). Forum users’ bonding social capital (operationalized as network constraint) was negatively associated with the level of communication accommodation in their received replies (P<.001). The forum users’ change in their use of self-referent words and words expressing negative emotions were examined as linguistic proxies for their health conditions and mental states. The results revealed a general negative association between the number of received replies and the degree of decrease in the use of words expressing negative emotion (P=.007). Conclusions The structural positions of online depression forum users in the reply network are associated with different participation outcomes in the users. Thus, receiving replies can be beneficial to online depression forum users.

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Examining Social Capital, Social Support, and Language Use in an Online Depression Forum: Social Network and Content Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17365 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Wenjing Pan ◽

Bo Feng ◽

Cuihua Shen

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Capital ◽

Social Network ◽

Support Groups ◽

Language Use ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Analysis Method ◽

Communication Accommodation

BACKGROUND The use of peer-to-peer online support groups and communities has grown into a social phenomenon. Many people use online support groups and communities to seek and provide social support. It is essential to examine how users’ participation behaviors may contribute to different outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to (1) use the structural positions of online depression forum users in their reply network to predict received support and (2) examine their language use reflecting their health conditions. METHODS A total of 2061 users and their 62,274 replies posted on a depression forum from July 2004 to July 2014 were extracted using a web crawler written in Python. The content of the forum users’ posts and replies and their reply patterns were examined. A social network analysis method was used to build the reply networks of users. The computerized text analysis method was used to measure features of the forum users’ language styles. RESULTS Forum users’ bridging social capital (operationalized as network betweenness) was positively associated with the level of communication accommodation in their received replies (P=.04). Forum users’ bonding social capital (operationalized as network constraint) was negatively associated with the level of communication accommodation in their received replies (P<.001). The forum users’ change in their use of self-referent words and words expressing negative emotions were examined as linguistic proxies for their health conditions and mental states. The results revealed a general negative association between the number of received replies and the degree of decrease in the use of words expressing negative emotion (P=.007). CONCLUSIONS The structural positions of online depression forum users in the reply network are associated with different participation outcomes in the users. Thus, receiving replies can be beneficial to online depression forum users.

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

10.2196/preprints.21348 ◽

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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