GIVE A PIECE OF YOUR MIND: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF A FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP FOR DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS

Abstract The online environment offers individuals a means of obtaining information, support, and social connection. Older adults are growing users of the internet1. Online support groups (e.g., Facebook groups) have been found to provide health-related information and encourage mental well-being2. They may be particularly advantageous for caregivers of individuals diagnosed with dementia, as it is difficult to leave loved ones with dementia alone. However, the mechanisms by which online support groups engage caregivers, and the content of support, have yet to be explored. In the current study, content from 100 posts from a private Facebook caregiver support group were evaluated for gender of post author, relationship to the person receiving care, distress, emotional tone, grief reaction, caregiver burden, and coping strategy. Results indicated that caregiver distress was associated with the presence of grief reactions, negative emotional tone, and higher caregiver burden. Utilizing venting as a coping strategy was associated with higher caregiver burden, similar to what is observed in a traditional in-person support group. Online communication for caregivers may provide an indication of caregivers’ psychological well-being, as specific coping strategies and grief reactions indicated higher levels of caregiver burden and distress. Research on interventions for dementia caregivers may benefit from a focus on online social support as a means of accessing caregivers and treatment delivery.

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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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The Public Health Impact and Policy Implications of Online Support Group Use for Mental Health in Singapore: Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.18114 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kumarasan Roystonn ◽

Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar ◽

Boon Yiang Chua ◽

Rajeswari Sambasivam ◽

Saleha Shafie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Treatment Services

BACKGROUND The wide mental health treatment gap continues to pose a global and local public health challenge. Online support groups are on the rise and could be used to complement formal treatment services for mental health. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the prevalence of online support group use and explore factors associated with the use in the general population using data from a national cross-sectional mental health survey in Singapore. METHODS Singapore residents aged 18 years and above participated in a nationally representative household survey in which the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was administered by trained interviewers to examine the use of online support groups for mental health. Multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the association of online support group use with various sociodemographic and health factors. RESULTS A total of 6110 respondents with complete data were included in this study. Overall, 10 individuals per 1000 adults (1%) reported seeking help from online support groups for their mental health problems. Compared to younger adults (those aged 18 to 34 years) and those with university education, individuals aged 50 to 64 years (P<.001; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.3) and those with preuniversity qualifications (P=.02; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.8) were less likely to use online support groups for mental health, respectively. Participants with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) mental disorder were 6.8 times more likely (P<.001; 95% CI 3.0-15.4) to use an online support group; in particular, individuals with major depressive disorder (P<.001; OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.1-13.8) and obsessive compulsive disorder (P=.01; OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.7) were more likely to use an online support group for their mental health. CONCLUSIONS Online support groups could be used to complement formal treatment services, especially for mood and anxiety-related disorders. As online support group use for mental health issues may be more prevalent among younger people, early detection and accurate information in online support groups may guide individuals toward seeking professional help for their mental health problems.

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Ethics and Engagement in Communication Scholarship

Readings in Virtual Research Ethics ◽

10.4018/978-1-59140-152-0.ch010 ◽

2004 ◽

pp. 174-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Mary K. Walstrom

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Online Support ◽

Research Approach ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Ethical Orientation ◽

Ethical Challenges ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Ethical Concerns

This chapter asserts an engaged research approach that aims to meet the ethical challenges of public, online support group studies. First, the intrinsic ethical orientation of the theoretical framework undergirding this approach is detailed. Second, how this approach may guide qualitative-interpretive analyses of public, online support groups is explored. This section features two excerpts from a larger study conducted of one such group. Third, three additional features of engaged research that bolsters its capacity to address the ethical concerns of public, online support group studies are presented. The chapter with a call and rationale for future engaged research of such sites, stressing the benefits to research and support group communities alike.

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Online Support Groups as a means of Chronic Pain Management for Patients with Genetic Disorders (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.33218 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sadaf Ashtari ◽

Joseph Taylor ◽

Kelsie Goff

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Pain Management ◽

Information Extraction ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Rare Diseases ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

BACKGROUND Rare diseases with symptoms that include chronic pain present a challenge for patients and providers to manage. Lack of experience with rare diseases may result in clinicians relying on general pain management strategies such as narcotics in circumstances where alternative forms of pain support may be available. OBJECTIVE In this research, we examine how patients extract information, and receive emotional support, through the use of an online support group. We develop a model to describe factors that both enhance and constrain the use of online support groups to engage with patients. METHODS This study uses path analysis to examine survey data related to participation in an online support group from patients managing Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). RESULTS We present a model with excellent goodness of fit indices that exceed a CFI of .995, and an RMSEA value of less than .04. Our model presents nine hypotheses which are all supported. Our analysis of the data shows a significant value of all predicted paths with a p<.001. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that a feeling of belonging, a willingness to share, and comfort with the technology that supports an online community are associated with patients reporting greater levels of information extraction and social support from online support groups. We further find that greater levels of concern regarding privacy and security of information were associated with lower levels of willingness to share and information extraction of patients from online support groups.

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Exploring Member-Leader Behaviors and Interaction in an Online Support Group

Small Group Research ◽

10.1177/1046496418763889 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 452-474 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily A. Paskewitz ◽

Stephenson J. Beck

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Process Analysis ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Leader Behaviors ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Online Groups ◽

Meaning Attribution ◽

To Receive

Online support groups are a common way for people to receive social support. Utilizing online support sites allows members to connect with people in similar situations, without the need for geographic proximity. Many online groups rely on member-leaders, or individuals with personal experience, to lead groups. These member-leaders are often favored by members over professional leaders but often lack training in leadership. This project explored how member-leaders interact in an online support group. This article uses both interaction process analysis (IPA) and research on leader behaviors to understand how member-leaders communicate in online support groups. Results show that leaders primarily use task messages, with the majority of leader behaviors labeled as meaning attribution and use of self. Member-leaders primarily focused on perspective taking rather than discussion facilitation. An examination of the task and relational interaction profile in terms of leader behaviors is also explored.

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The Effects of Situational Peers and Support Groups on the Well-Being of Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1316 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 408-409

Author(s):

Alexandra Jeanblanc ◽

Carol Musil ◽

Christopher Burant ◽

McKenzie Wallace

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Multigenerational Households ◽

Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren ◽

Need For Support ◽

Group Engagement

Abstract Grandmothers raising their grandchildren face not only the demands of parenting, but the added burden of parenting a child they did not expect to raise. Similarly, grandmothers living in multigenerational households need to balance expectations and household/caregiving tasks across the generations. As part of a nationwide RCT designed to lessen the stress associated with the caregiving burden of raising grandchildren, we asked 342 grandmothers raising their grandchildren about their engagement with support groups and whether their social network included other grandfamilies. Here, we examine the effect of situational peers and support group engagement on grandmother’s stress, reward, social support, mental health, mindfulness, and resourcefulness. Of our sample, 53.8% (N=184) reported belonging to a support group. The majority of participants (138) belonged to online support groups on Facebook, 41 reported participating in in-person support groups, 3 belonged to both in-person and online support groups, and 8 did not respond. When asked whether and how well our participants knew other families like theirs, 31% (106) said they did not know any, 40.6% (139) knew of at least one, but not well, and 28.4% (97) said they had at least one friend with a family like her own. Knowing other families like their own affected self-appraised stress, but no other outcomes. Grandmothers participating in support groups had lower mindfulness scores, higher stress, and worse mental health scores than grandmothers not participating in support groups, possibly reflecting the higher need for support among those participants.

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The Public Health Impact and Policy Implications of Online Support Group Use for Mental Health in Singapore: Cross-Sectional Survey

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/18114 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. e18114

Author(s):

Kumarasan Roystonn ◽

Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar ◽

Boon Yiang Chua ◽

Rajeswari Sambasivam ◽

Saleha Shafie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Mental Health ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Treatment Services

Background The wide mental health treatment gap continues to pose a global and local public health challenge. Online support groups are on the rise and could be used to complement formal treatment services for mental health. Objective This study aimed to examine the prevalence of online support group use and explore factors associated with the use in the general population using data from a national cross-sectional mental health survey in Singapore. Methods Singapore residents aged 18 years and above participated in a nationally representative household survey in which the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was administered by trained interviewers to examine the use of online support groups for mental health. Multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the association of online support group use with various sociodemographic and health factors. Results A total of 6110 respondents with complete data were included in this study. Overall, 10 individuals per 1000 adults (1%) reported seeking help from online support groups for their mental health problems. Compared to younger adults (those aged 18 to 34 years) and those with university education, individuals aged 50 to 64 years (P<.001; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.3) and those with preuniversity qualifications (P=.02; OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.0-0.8) were less likely to use online support groups for mental health, respectively. Participants with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) mental disorder were 6.8 times more likely (P<.001; 95% CI 3.0-15.4) to use an online support group; in particular, individuals with major depressive disorder (P<.001; OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.1-13.8) and obsessive compulsive disorder (P=.01; OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.7) were more likely to use an online support group for their mental health. Conclusions Online support groups could be used to complement formal treatment services, especially for mood and anxiety-related disorders. As online support group use for mental health issues may be more prevalent among younger people, early detection and accurate information in online support groups may guide individuals toward seeking professional help for their mental health problems.

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Being the infidelity partner: Narratives of lived experiences in an online support group

Interpersona An International Journal on Personal Relationships ◽

10.5964/ijpr.4423 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 197-211

Author(s):

Evdokia Ntali ◽

Nicolas Christakis

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Meaning Making ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Cultural Narratives ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Supportive Environment ◽

The Relationship

Taking into account the secretive nature of infidelity experiences and their adverse impact on the involved partners, the aim of the present qualitative study was to examine how individuals—who have been engaged in extradyadic relationships, as “affair partners”—narrate their experiences in an online support group. The study analyzed 60 posts, published over a period of 6 months in an online support community. Three main themes emerged through the thematic analysis conducted. The first theme involved conflicting dimensions of affair partner experience, in which the following sub-themes were identified: 1) living in the shadow of loss, and 2) the prevalence of ambivalence: when opposite impulses coexist. The second theme refers to the centripetal aspects of the relationship and within this section the following sub-themes are defined: 1) the relationship as a supportive environment and 2) between plenitude and dearth: the desire for exclusivity. Finally, the third theme refers to the lessons learned by the affair partners and their generalizing conclusions such experiences. The present study underlines how group participants reconstruct their experiences of extradyadic relationships and how they create new ways of meaning making about them. The findings involve reflexive conclusions about intimate relationships capturing elements of broader cultural narratives, representations and dilemmas of self and relationships, as presented in written transactions in online support groups.

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The impact of an online Facebook support group for people with multiple sclerosis on non-active users

African Journal of Disability ◽

10.4102/ajod.v3i1.132 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jacqui Steadman ◽

Chrisma Pretorius

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Emotional Support ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Informational Support ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Social Companionship ◽

Active Membership

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease and there is little research on support networks for people with MS (PwMS). More specifically, most studies on online support groups focus on those who actively participate in the group, whereas the majority of those who utilise online support groups do so in a passive way.Objectives: This study therefore aimed to explore the experiences of non-active users of an online Facebook support group for PwMS. Emphasis was placed on the facilitators and the barriers that were associated with membership to this group.Method: An exploratory qualitative research design was implemented, whereby thematic analysis was utilised to examine the ten semi-structured interviews that were conducted.Results: Several facilitators were acquired through the online support group; namely emotional support (constant source of support, exposure to negative aspects of the disease),informational support (group as a source of knowledge, quality of information) and social companionship (place of belonging). Some barriers were also identified; namely emotional support (emotions lost online, response to messages, exposure to negative aspects of the disease), informational support (information posted on the group, misuse of group) and social companionship (non-active status).Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the non-active members of the online support group for PwMS have valid reasons for their non-active membership status. More important,the findings suggest that the online Facebook support group provided the group members with an important support network in the form of emotional support, informational support and social companionship, despite their non-active membership status or the barriers that have been identified.

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Empowering or Disempowering? Online Support among Seafarer-Partners

Sociological Research Online ◽

10.5153/sro.2116 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 53-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lijun Tang

Keyword(s):

Social Psychology ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Past Research ◽

Online Support ◽

Online Support Groups ◽

Mutual Support ◽

Online Support Group ◽

Common Values ◽

Beliefs And Values

Past research in sociology and social psychology has revealed two aspects of online support. This mutual support among members of online support groups brings about empowerment as well as produces common values. The interaction between the two, however, has not been explicitly explored. This paper fills in this gap by examining the activities of a group of seafarer-partners in an online support group. It shows that common beliefs and values in groups can make online support, which is supposed to be empowering, serve disempowering purposes. This suggests that online support can produce a tension between empowerment and disempowerment. The finding leads to the conclusion that group values condition the empowerment potential of online support.

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