TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring psychosocial support online
T2 - A content analysis of messages in an adolescent and young adult cancer community
AU - Love, Brad
AU - Crook, Brittani
AU - Thompson, Charee M.
AU - Zaitchik, Sarah
AU - Knapp, Jessica
AU - Lefebvre, Leah
AU - Jones, Barbara
AU - Donovan-Kicken, Erin
AU - Eargle, Emily
AU - Rechis, Ruth
PY - 2012/10/1
Y1 - 2012/10/1
N2 - The increased usage of online cancer support groups as a resource for health-related information and social support has sparked numerous discussions about the role of online support in healthcare. However, little is known about the role of social-networking groups focused on supporting adolescents and young adults (AYAs) dealing with cancer. The current investigation report findings from a content analysis designed to explore how AYAs use an online support group to meet their psychosocial needs. Overall, members of the community focused on exchanging emotional and informational support, coping with difficult emotions through expression, describing experiences of being an AYA dealing with cancer through language (metaphors), enacting identity through evaluations of the new normal (life with and after cancer), and communicating membership as an AYA with cancer. This study highlights the unique needs of the AYA cancer community and offers a preliminary roadmap for practitioners, and network members, such as family and friends, to attempt to meet the needs of this unique community.
AB - The increased usage of online cancer support groups as a resource for health-related information and social support has sparked numerous discussions about the role of online support in healthcare. However, little is known about the role of social-networking groups focused on supporting adolescents and young adults (AYAs) dealing with cancer. The current investigation report findings from a content analysis designed to explore how AYAs use an online support group to meet their psychosocial needs. Overall, members of the community focused on exchanging emotional and informational support, coping with difficult emotions through expression, describing experiences of being an AYA dealing with cancer through language (metaphors), enacting identity through evaluations of the new normal (life with and after cancer), and communicating membership as an AYA with cancer. This study highlights the unique needs of the AYA cancer community and offers a preliminary roadmap for practitioners, and network members, such as family and friends, to attempt to meet the needs of this unique community.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84867514117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84867514117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/cyber.2012.0138
DO - 10.1089/cyber.2012.0138
M3 - Article
C2 - 22970826
AN - SCOPUS:84867514117
SN - 2152-2715
VL - 15
SP - 555
EP - 559
JO - Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
JF - Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
IS - 10
ER -