User characteristics and usage of an open access moderated internet support group for depression and other mental disorders: A prospective study

Abstract

BackgroundInternet support groups (ISGs) for mental ill-health are common but little is known about the characteristics of users, the usage and predictors of ISG usage and if and how these change over time.AimThis study evaluated the attributes of a publically accessible ISG for depression and other mental disorders including: (1) the demographic and other characteristics of its users; (2) their patterns of usage; and (3) the factors which predict posts to and retention on the ISG.MethodUser characteristics (gender, age, user type, country and location of residence) were collected at the time of registration on the ISG BlueBoard (blueboard.anu.edu.au). All board log data were downloaded for the period October 2008 to May 2014. Predictors of post frequency and retention on the board were examined using logistic regressions. Other data were analysed using descriptive statistics.Results2932 users contributed 131,004 posts to the ISG. The majority were female, aged 20 to 34 years, and mental health consumers. Although most users were city dwellers, 19% resided in rural or remote regions. Frequency of posts and retention on the board varied across users, with a moderate association between retention and number of posts. Growth in posts substantially exceeded the growth in new users over the monitoring period. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that consumers posted more often and remained longer than carers or others, and that younger users posted less often; however, the model predicted very little of the variance.ConclusionsA small minority of active users are sufficient to ensure the sustainability and growth of an online mental health ISG. Further research is required to understand why so many support group members limit their contributions to one or a very small number of posts and what factors predict and promote active engagement and long-term retention in virtual mental health communities.

Combining online and offline peer support groups in community mental health care settings: a qualitative study of service users’ experiences

“…Research nevertheless suggests that peer support can improve outcomes such as quality of life and hope [4,20], increase social network and wellness [21], and reduce treatment costs and rates of re-hospitalization [17]. While much of the literature on peer support is based on offline face-to-face settings, online peer support has evolved rapidly in recent years [22,23], also for mental health issues [24] exemplified through different types of interventions and target groups [25][26][27]. An online support group or community is defined as "any virtual social space where people come together to get and give information or support, to learn, or to find company" [28].…”

Internet use for family carers of people with intellectual disabilities: A literature review and thematic synthesis

“…The convenience of access from home can mean that for some support such as for weight loss, online forums can provide better support than face-to-face help (Hwang et al, 2011). For those living in rural areas, gaining online connections is beneficial as it may be otherwise difficult to find (Griffiths et al, 2017). Chan et al (2016) found that forum use can help participants understand and empathize with others in their positions or to help deal with rejection that they felt from people in real life (Bailey et al, 2017).…”

Impact of Anonymity and Social Modeling: Online Aggression in Emerging Adults and Their Religious and Political Ideologies

“…In many of these environments, anonymity and social modeling are crucial components that govern and guide behavior and allow individuals to feel comfortable expressing their emotions, concerns, and opinions publicly. Investigations of other online environments where help-seeking traffic is common and the incorporation of open access internet support forums that are moderated would contribute to our understandings about behaviors across genres (Griffiths, Carron-Arthur, Reynolds, Bennett, & Bennett 2017;McKiernan, Ryan, McMahon, & Butler, 2017). Further, this Note.…”

“…In many virtual environments, individuals interact with anonymity, which seems to provide a variety of social benefits ranging from security and privacy to behavioral change such as an increased propensity to openly engage in social activity. This security and privacy can lead to positive interactions where individuals feel free to discuss personal health or social issues (Fox & Duggan, 2013), and actively seek help and advice from others on open-access, moderated internet support forums (Griffiths, Carron-Arthur, Reynolds, Bennett, & Bennett 2017).…”

“…Most obviously, they are at a stage of development where they have greater independence in their ability to express themselves and their beliefs (Arnett, 2004). When looking at their actual engagement in online environments, there are clear differences, that include the fact their internet usage is significantly higher (Greenwood, Perrin, & Duggan, 2016), and they tend to utilize social media for communications and self-expression in different ways (Brown, 2006;Cicchirillo, Hmielowski, & Hutchens, 2015;Griffiths et al, 2017). Further, their ability to control their usage of social media differs from adolescents or young adults that may still depend upon parents to monitor, pay for, or access their activities (Lenhart, 2009).…”