Exploring the Communication of Social Support within Virtual Communities: A Content Analysis of Messages Posted to an Online HIV/AIDS Support Group Export

@article{citeulike:2997592, abstract = {ABSTRACT The present study examined the nature of social support exchanged within an online HIV/AIDS support group. Content analysis was conducted with reference to five types of social support (information support, tangible assistance, esteem support, network support, and emotional support) on 85 threads (1,138 messages). Our analysis revealed that many of the messages offered informational and emotional support, followed by esteem support and network support, with tangible assistance the least frequently offered. Results suggest that this online support group is a popular forum through which individuals living with HIV/AIDS can offer social support. Our findings have implications for health care professionals who support individuals living with HIV/AIDS.}, author = {Mo, Phoenix K. H. and Coulson, Neil S.}, citeulike-article-id = {2997592}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.0118}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/cpb.2007.0118}, doi = {10.1089/cpb.2007.0118}, journal = {CyberPsychology \& Behavior}, keywords = {community, groups, health, internet, support, virtual}, number = {3}, pages = {371--374}, posted-at = {2008-07-13 22:58:12}, priority = {2}, title = {Exploring the Communication of Social Support within Virtual Communities: A Content Analysis of Messages Posted to an Online HIV/AIDS Support Group}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.0118}, volume = {11}, year = {2008} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2997592 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2997592 N2 - ABSTRACT The present study examined the nature of social support exchanged within an online HIV/AIDS support group. Content analysis was conducted with reference to five types of social support (information support, tangible assistance, esteem support, network support, and emotional support) on 85 threads (1,138 messages). Our analysis revealed that many of the messages offered informational and emotional support, followed by esteem support and network support, with tangible assistance the least frequently offered. Results suggest that this online support group is a popular forum through which individuals living with HIV/AIDS can offer social support. Our findings have implications for health care professionals who support individuals living with HIV/AIDS. IS - 3 JF - CyberPsychology & Behavior EP - 374 TI - Exploring the Communication of Social Support within Virtual Communities: A Content Analysis of Messages Posted to an Online HIV/AIDS Support Group VL - 11 SP - 371 KW - community KW - groups KW - health KW - internet KW - support KW - virtual AU - Mo, Phoenix AU - Coulson, Neil PY - 2008/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.0118 ER -