Receiving Social Support Online: An Analysis of a Computer-Mediated Support Group for Individuals Living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

In recent years, the rapid expansion in Internet access and computer-mediated communication has fostered new opportunities for individuals with health-related concerns to participate in supportive communication within a network of individuals dealing with similar issues. The aim of this study was to examine the nature of socially supportive communication that took place within a computer-mediated support network for individuals affected by irritable bowel syndrome. Using deductive thematic analysis, 572 posted messages were examined with reference to five main categories of social support (i.e., emotional, esteem, information, network, and tangible assistance). The analysis suggests that the primary function of this group was the communication of informational support, notably within the areas of symptom interpretation, illness management, and interaction with health care professionals.

[1]  B. Yawn,et al.  Diagnosis and care of irritable bowel syndrome in a community-based population. , 2001, The American journal of managed care.

[2]  Roger Jones,et al.  Irritable bowel syndrome in the general population. , 1992, BMJ.

[3]  J. Berger.  Crisis intervention: a drop-in support group for cancer patients and their families. , 1985, Social work in health care.

[4]  Tom Ferguson,et al.  Health Online: How To Find Health Information, Support Groups, And Self Help Communities In Cyberspace , 1996 .

[5]  D. Drossman,et al.  Bowel patterns among subjects not seeking health care. Use of a questionnaire to identify a population with bowel dysfunction. , 1982, Gastroenterology.

[6]  K W Heaton,et al.  Irritable bowel syndrome in general practice: prevalence, characteristics, and referral , 2000, Gut.

[7]  Sherida Ryan,et al.  Trust and Participation in Online Usenet Self-Help Communities , 2006 .

[8]  B M Zide,et al.  I am not alone. , 2001, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[9]  G. Eysenbach,et al.  Ethical issues in qualitative research on internet communities , 2001, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[10]  N. Coulson,et al.  Accessing dental anxiety online support groups: an exploratory qualitative study of motives and experiences. , 2007, Patient education and counseling.

[11]  A R Zinsmeister,et al.  Prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the elderly: a population-based study. , 1992, Gastroenterology.

[12]  Dmitri Williams,et al.  The Impact of Time Online: Social Capital and Cyberbalkanization , 2007, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[13]  Robert S. Sandler,et al.  Symptom complaints and health care seeking behavior in subjects with bowel dysfunction , 1984 .

[14]  Nicholas J. Talley,et al.  U. S. Householder survey of functional gastrointestinal disorders , 1993, Digestive Diseases and Sciences.

[15]  Neil S. Coulson,et al.  Coping with Food Allergy: Exploring the Role of the Online Support Group , 2007, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[16]  M Dixon-Woods,et al.  Medical and lay views of irritable bowel syndrome. , 2000, Family practice.

[17]  D. Spiegel,et al.  Group support for patients with metastatic cancer. A randomized outcome study. , 1981, Archives of general psychiatry.

[18]  Elizabeth Sillence,et al.  Going online for health advice: Changes in usage and trust practices over the last five years , 2007, Interact. Comput..

[19]  H. Kraemer,et al.  EFFECT OF PSYCHOSOCIAL TREATMENT ON SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER , 1989, The Lancet.

[20]  Paul Haidet,et al.  'Screwed for life': examining identification and division in addiction narratives. , 2007, Communication & medicine.

[21]  N. Coulson,et al.  Social support in cyberspace: a content analysis of communication within a Huntington's disease online support group. , 2007, Patient education and counseling.

[22]  A R Zinsmeister,et al.  Epidemiology of colonic symptoms and the irritable bowel syndrome. , 1991, Gastroenterology.

[23]  A. Barak,et al.  Does activity level in online support groups for distressed adolescents determine emotional relief , 2006 .

[24]  J. Suhr,et al.  Controllability of Stressful Events and Satisfaction With Spouse Support Behaviors , 1992 .

[25]  Fay Sudweeks,et al.  How Do You Get a Hundred Strangers to Agree: Computer mediated communication and collaboration , 1996 .

[26]  Richard E. Boyatzis,et al.  Transforming Qualitative Information: Thematic Analysis and Code Development , 1998 .

[27]  Vincent R. Waldron,et al.  Communication of social support in computer-mediated groups for people with disabilities. , 1999, Health communication.