Online Social Support: An Effective Means of Mediating Stress

Implication for Future Research

As remarked, the area of future research on online social support groups is virtually endless.  Some future research will need to understand how online self help groups work to promote a sense of wellbeing among the users.  In addition, research that examines passive participation or “lurking” will be necessary to understand the phenomenon of online support groups more completely.  Consider, there is evidence to suggest that for every one active member of an online support group, there are as many as 20 people reading and watching without participating (Lieberman & Goldstein, 2009).  By conducting further research to understand the lurking experiences and processes more will be of interest to many researchers, and health care providers at minimum.  And through what process do people shift from passive to active participation?  An additional area for future research includes what role maladaptive coping plays in online social support groups.

Other future research ideas include the development of some measurement tools for online social support groups may be valuable (Blum, 2004).  Also, it would be helpful to get a better sense of what people who participate in online support groups that idealize maladaptive behaviors get as a result of their participation.  To effectively plan and implement healthy treatment programs, it is essential that people are participating in online support groups that promote wellness in a way that promotes positive change.  To get a more complete picture of racial and ethnic patterns in online support groups, where social support is the main focus, longitudinal studies with larger samples may be valuable (Fogel et al., 2003).  Finally, one area of research not explored to date is the use of Carepages, and other networking tools that are available to families of patients while at the hospital.

Author's Thoughts

Having seen the positive aspects of online social support networks, I was shocked that there are social support groups that idealize anorexia.  While I think free speech is important, as a parent and future professional psychologist, I was saddened to visit the sites.   One comment resonated with me and I think it typifies the nature of these sites: “i am not saying this to offend................ i have been on this site for 4 years and sometimes i miss the competitions and all the other stuff we get called bad for. i always felt better if i was in it with another girl.” (gottobekiddin, 10 October, 2009).   The struggle is undeniable.  The impact of social support is powerful.

References

Baker, J. R., Moore, S. (2008). Distress, coping, and blogging: Comparing new Myspace users by their intention to blog. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(1), 81-85. DOI: 10.1089/cpb.2007.9930

Baum, L. S. (2004). Internet parent support groups for primary caregivers of a child with special health care needs. Pediatric Nursing, 30(5), 381-401.

Bath, D. (2009). Predicting social support for grieving persons: A theory of planned behavior perspective. Death Studies, 33(10), 869-889. DOI:10.1080/07481180903251547.

Beaudoin, C. E., & Tao, C. C. (2007). Benefiting from social capital in online support groups: An empirical study of cancer patients. CyberPsychology, 10(4), 587-590. DOI: 10.1089/cpb.2007.9986

Blogs. (2009). In marketingterms.com. Retrieved October 30, 2009 from http://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/blog/

Campbell, A. J., Cumming, S. R., & Hughes, I. (2006). Internet use by the socially fearful: Addiction or therapy? CyberPsychology & Behavior, 9(1), 69-81. DOI: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9.69

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Faststats: Death and mortality. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm

Carnegie Mellon Cylab. (2009). Senior citizens online. Retrieved November 5, 2009 from http://www.mysecurecyberspace.com/articles/statistics-trends/senior-citizens-online.html#msc.article.statistics.seniors

Cummings, J. N., Sproull, L., & Kiesler, S. B. (2003). Beyond hearing: Where real-world and online support meet. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 6(1), 78-88. DOI: 10.1037/1089-2699.6.1.78.

Fogel, J., Albert, S. M., Schnabel, F., Ditkoff, B. A., & Neugut, A. I. (2003). Racial/ethnic differences and potential psychological benefits in use of the internet by women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 12(2), 107-117. DOI: 10.1002/pon.617

Folkman, S. & Lazarus, R. S. (1988). Coping as a mediator of emotions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(3), 466-475.

Gottobekiddin. (10 October 2009). Message posted to http://community.livejournal.com/proanorexia/156332203.html)

Gow, A., Pattie, A., Whiteman, M., Whalley, L., & Deary, I. (2007). Social support and successful aging: Investigating the relationships between lifetime cognitive change and life satisfaction. Journal of Individual Differences, 28(3), 103-115. DOI:10.1027/1614-0001.28.3.103.

Greenglass, E. R. (2002). Chapter 3: Proactive coping. In E. Frydenberg (Ed.), Beyond coping: Meeting goals, vision, and challenges. London: Oxford University Press, (pp. 37-62).

Greenglass, E., Fiksenbaum, L., & Eaton, J. (2006). The relationship between coping, social support, functional disability and depression in the ederly. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 19(1), 15-31. DOI: 10.1080/14659890500436430

Hardt, J. H. & Hollis-Sawyer, L.  (2007). Older adults seeking healthcare information on the internet. Educational Gerontology, 33, 561-572. DOI: 10.1080/03601270701364628.

Jiali, Y. (2006). An examination of acculturative stress, interpersonal social support, and use of online ethnic social groups among Chinese international students. Howard Journal of Communications, 17(1), 1-20. DOI: 10.1080/1646170500487764

Kernsmith, P., & Kernsmith, R. (2008). A safe place for predators: Online treatment of recovering sex offenders. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26(2/4), 223-238. DOI:10.1080/15228830802096598

Kivinen, O., & Ristela, P. (2003). From constructivism to a pragmatist conception of learning. Oxford Review of Education, 29(3), 363. DOI:10.1080/0305498032000120300

Kraut, R., Patterson, M., Lundmark, V., Kiesler, S., Mukophadhyay, T., & Scherlis, W. (1998). Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? American Psychologist, 53(9), 1017-1031. DOI:10.1037/0003-066X.53.9.1017

LaCoursiere, S. P. (2001). A theory of online social support. Advances in Nursing Science, 24(1), 60-77.

Leung, L. (2007). Stressful life events, motives for internet use, and social support among digital kids. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(2), 204-214. DOI: 10.1089/cpb.2006.9967.

Lieberman, M. A., & Goldstein, B. A. (2005). Self-help on-line: An outcome evaluation of breast cancer bulletin boards. Journal of Health Psychology, 10(6), 855-862. DOI: 10.1177/1359105305057319.

Marra, J., McCarthy, E., Lin, H., Ford, J., Rodis, E., & Frisman, L. (2009). Effects of social support and conflict on parenting among homeless mothers. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 79(3), 348-356. DOI:10.1037/a0017241

Miniwatts Marketing Group. (2009). Internet usage statistics: The internet big picture, world internet users and population stats. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

Mulveen, R., Hepworth, J. (2006). An interpretive phenomenological analysis of participation in a pro-anorexia internet site and its relationship with disordered eating. Journal of Health Psychology, 11(2), 283-296. DOI: 10.1177/1359105306061187.

Roehrle, B., & Strouse, J. (2008). Influence of social support on success of therapeutic interventions: A meta-analytic review. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45(4), 464-476. DOI: 10.1037/a0014333

Schwerdtfeger, K., Osby-Williams, J., Hoheisel, C., Nue, B., Nelson Goff, B., Reisbig, A., et al. (2008). Individual symptoms and coping resources reported by trauma survivors and their partners: A Qualitative research study with clinical couples. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 7(3), 187-209.

Seckin, G. (2009). Internet technology in service of personal health care management: Patient perspective. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 27(2), 79-92. DOI: 10.1080/15228830902749179.

Semmer, N., Elfering, A., Jacobshagen, N., Perrot, T., Beehr, T., & Boos, N. (2008). The emotional meaning of instrumental social support. International Journal of Stress Management, 15(3), 235-251. DOI:10.1037/1072-5245.15.3.235.

Shaw, L. H. & Gant, L. W. (2002). In defence of the internet: The relationship between internet communication and depression, loneliness, self-esteem, and perceived social support. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 5(2), 157-170.

Sullivan, C. F. (2003). Gendered Cybersupport: A thematic analysis of two online cancer support groups. Journal of Health Psychology, 8(1), 83-104. DOI: 1.1177/1359105303008001446.

Vanerwerker, L. C., & Prigerson, H. G. (2003). Social support and technological connectedness as protective factors in bereavement. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 9(1), 45-57. DOI: 10.1080/15325020490255304.

Walden University. (2009). Vision, mission, and goals. Retrieved November 8, 2009 from http://catalog.waldenu.edu/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=243

Wright, K. B. (2000). Social support satisfaction, on-line communication apprehension, and perceived life stress within computer-mediated support groups. Communication Research Reports, 17(2), 139-147.