Online supportive interactions: Using a network approach to examine communication patterns within a psychosis social support group in Taiwan
Abstract
A network approach was used to determine the overall supportive communication patterns constructed within the PTT psychosis support group in Taiwan, the largest bulletin board system in the Chinese‐speaking world. The full sequences of supportive interactions were observed over a $2{\textstyle{1 \over 2}}$‐year period from February 2004 to July 2006. The results indicated that the most exchanged support types were information and network links. All types of supportive communication networks were relatively sparse, yet small groups of cliques with different provision of support types formed within the psychosis group. Most of the online supportive interactions exchanged at dyadic and triadic levels. The overall supportive network was highly centralized. The overall findings with implications for future studies were discussed.
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In an online psychosis peer-support group, different forms of support emerged: informational support about medication use or contacting mental health providers, esteem support involving positive comments for encouragement, network support for sharing similar experiences, and emotional support to express understanding and offer hope or confidence.
“Specifically, different forms of support emerged, including ‘informational support’ about medication use or contacting mental health providers, ‘esteem support’ involving positive comments for encouragement, ‘network support’ for sharing similar experiences, and ‘emotional support’ to express understanding of a peer’s situation and offer hope or confidence (Chang, 2009).”
From Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice (2020) · cites this paper as Chang, 2009
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- Authors
- Chang, H.
- Affiliations
- Fu Jen Catholic University (TW)
- Corresponding author
- Chang, Hui‐Jung
- Venue
- Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-04-13
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1504-1517
- ISSN
- 1532-2882 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-2890
- OpenAlex
- W4248364519
- Cited by
- 42
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Social Sciences › Communication › Knowledge Management and Sharing
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- Keywords
- bulletin boards, social support, communication patterns, network analysis, cliques, network centrality, information sharing, online communities, Taiwan
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