The process and effect of supportive message expression and reception in online breast cancer support groups

Abstract

Objective To better understand the process and effect of social support exchanges within computer-mediated social support (CMSS) groups for breast cancer patients, this study examines 1) the dynamic interplay between emotional support giving and receiving and 2) the relative effects of emotional support giving and receiving on patients’ psychosocial health outcomes. Methods Data was collected from 177 patients who participated in online cancer support groups within the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) during the 4-month intervention. Data included 1) pretest and/or posttest survey scores of demographic, disease-related, and psychosocial factors, 2) automatically collected CHESS usage data, and 3) computer-aided content analysis of social support messages posts. Results Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that those who receive higher levels of support from others have fewer breast cancer-related concerns (β= −.15, p<.05), while those who give higher levels of support to others reframe their own problems in a positive light and adopt more positive strategies for coping (β= .16, p<.05). In addition to these positive effects, partial correlation analysis indicated that these two supportive behaviors are reciprocal. Conclusions We concluded that supportive exchanges of receiving and giving play positive, but different, roles in predicting psychosocial health outcomes. Moreover, emotional support giving and receiving tend to reinforce each other. Our findings help practitioners, health care providers, and health system designers make sense of diverse social support processes among cancer patients participating within CMSS groups.

Communication Channel, Sex, and the Immediate and Longitudinal Outcomes of Verbal Person-centered Support

“…People use CMC to engage in supportive interactions with both established relational partners and strangers (Rains & Keating, 2011;Walther & Boyd, 2001;Wright, 2000). Engaging in supportive interactions online elicits emotional improvement and decreased levels of depression, loneliness, and stress (Kim et al, 2012;van Uden-Kraan, Drossaert, Taal, Seydel, & Van De Laar, 2009;Wright, 2000). In fact, some people indicate that they are more satisfied with the support they receive online than FtF (Wright, 1999).…”

Social Support and User Engagement in Online Health Communities

“…While people use OHCs for a wide range of needs, obtaining psychosocial support is one of the key benefits of engagement in OHCs [3,4]. Research has found that such support can help patients adjust to the stress of living with and fighting against their diseases [5,6,7] and is a consistent indicator of survival [8].…”

Social Interactions and Cultural Repertoires as Resources for Coping With Breast Cancer

“…Also Kim et al (2012) described the process and effect of social support exchanges within computer-mediated social support groups for breast cancer patients, showing that receiving and giving exchanges play positive, but different, roles in predicting psychosocial health outcomes.…”