Receiving social support online: implications for health education
Abstract
Online support groups are expanding as the general public becomes more comfortable using computer-mediated communication technology. These support groups have certain benefits for users who may not be able to or do not have the desire to attend face-to-face sessions. Online support groups also present challenges when compared to traditional face-to-face group communication. Communication difficulties may arise resulting from lack of visual and aural cues found in traditional face-to-face communication. Online support groups have emerged within health care as a result of the need individuals have to know more about health conditions they are confronting. The proliferation of these online communities may provide an opportunity for health educators to reach target populations with specific messages. This paper reviews the development of health-related online support groups, examines research conducted within these communities, compares their utility with traditional support groups and discusses the implications of these groups for health education.
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Providing anonymous participation in a learning environment can encourage wider participation as it inculcates a sense of safety and privacy.
“Providing anonymous participation in a learning environment can encourage wider participation as it inculcates a sense of safety and privacy (White and Dorman 2001).”
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- Authors
- White, M.
- Affiliations
- North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (US)
- Corresponding author
- White, M.
- Venue
- Health Education Research
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2001-12-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 693-707
- ISSN
- 0268-1153 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3648
- OpenAlex
- W2136715587
- Cited by
- 606
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 11.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Education Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods
- Keywords
- online support groups, social support, computer-mediated communication, health education, online communities, communication barriers, health information seeking
- MeSH terms
- Attitude to Computers, Computer Communication Networks, Disease, Health Education, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Online Systems, Patient Participation, Self-Help Groups, Social Support, United States
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