Are participants in face-to-face and internet support groups the same? Comparison of demographics and depression levels among women bereaved by stillbirth

Abstract

Support groups can help individuals cope with difficult health situations but have been understudied for women with perinatal bereavement. An early study suggested those using internet support groups had high rates of positive depression screens, raising the question whether these users were more symptomatic than those in similar face-to-face support groups. We therefore conducted two convenience sample surveys of women bereaved by perinatal loss, one looking at use of online support groups and the other in-person support groups. The surveys identified demographics, use of peer support, potential confounders, and current depression symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Four hundred sixteen women from 18 internet groups and 60 women from 13 in-person groups met inclusion criteria. Participants in both groups were predominantly Caucasian, highly educated, and had private insurance. Severe depression symptoms were similar in the two groups despite the different modalities. Women in both face-to-face or internet groups for pregnancy and perinatal loss demonstrated similar scores on depression screens. Women of color, poor, and less-educated women were starkly underrepresented in both types of groups, raising questions about knowledge of support options, barriers to use, preferences for bereavement support, and optimization of groups for a broader population.

Surgical decision making in premenopausal BRCA carriers considering risk-reducing early salpingectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy: a qualitative study

“…Additionally, RRESDO may be more acceptable than RRSO for combined surgery given the potential for menopausal symptoms while recovering from effects of mastectomy. Benefits of OSGs [42][43][44] include fluid informational exchange, continuous availability, greater access/anonymity and were also reported by our cohort. Our cohort reported increasing anxiety with OSGs and a preference for educational support groups (ESGs).…”

Peer Support Services for Bereaved Survivors: A Systematic Review

“…In a similar study, Gold et al (2016) found no differences in depression levels for bereaved mothers who received peer support via the Internet versus a faceto-face mode. A study on suicide survivors in the Netherlands reported decreases in depression and increased well-being over a 12-month period for participants in an Internet only support group (Kramer et al, 2015).…”

“…Of high quality studies that assessed peer support effectiveness, six of the seven found significant benefits for bereaved persons who received peer support, either in terms of reduced grief symptoms or increased personal growth. One study (Gold, Normandin, & Boggs, 2016) found no difference in depression symptoms between bereaved mothers who received peer support via the Internet versus face-to-face peer support. In this case, however, both groups reported that peer support was helpful in reducing the sense of isolation.…”

Technology as the key to women’s empowerment: a scoping review

“…This was accomplished through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy using computers [ 46 ], and web-based decision aid for understanding fetal anomalies [ 47 ]. Educational text messages were sent to encourage breastfeeding [ 79 ], and general health promotion interventions were delivered as well [ 43 , 44 , 56 , 65 , 73 , 75 , 80 ].…”