Journal ArticleDOI
Who talks? The social psychology of illness support groups.
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TLDR
Support seeking was highest for diseases viewed as stigmatizing and was lowest for less embarrassing but equally devastating disorders, such as heart disease, and implications for social comparison theory and its applications in health care are discussed.Abstract:
More Americans try to change their health behaviors through self-help than through all other forms of professionally designed programs. Mutual support groups, involving little or no cost to participants, have a powerful effect on mental and physical health, yet little is known about patterns of support group participation in health care. What kinds of illness experiences prompt patients to seek each other's company? In an effort to observe social comparison processes with real-world relevance, support group participation was measured for 20 disease categories in 4 metropolitan areas (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas) and on 2 on-line forums. Support seeking was highest for diseases viewed as stigmatizing (e.g., AIDS, alcoholism, breast and prostate cancer) and was lowest for less embarrassing but equally devastating disorders, such as heart disease. The authors discuss implications for social comparison theory and its applications in health care.read more
Citations
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A study of bariatric surgery patients’ weight management habits, quality of life and social support
TL;DR: It was found that while attendance of in-person support groups has a positive effect on psychological and bariatric QOL as compared to not attending any groups at all, participation in online groups alone does not have this effect and clinical implications and limitations of these findings, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.
Internet use and its relation to mental and physical health among older adults
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined relations between frequency of Internet use among adults 65 and older and perceptions of social support and personal control and found that frequency of internet use was uncorrelated with perceptions of Social Support and Personal Control and was not predictive of mental or physical health.
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The Role of Online Support Groups in Helping Individuals Affected by HIV and AIDS: Scoping Review of the Literature
TL;DR: In this article , the authors explored whether engagement with HIV and AIDS-related online support groups benefits members in terms of psychosocial well-being and illness management, whether members experienced any negative aspects of these groups, and what types of social support are exchanged within HIV-AIDS-related on-line support groups.
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Considering the value of online support groups for colorectal conditions: perspectives from caregivers and adult patients
Laura Judd-Glossy,Laura Judd-Glossy,Merlin Ariefdjohan,Merlin Ariefdjohan,Jill Ketzer,Kristina Matkins,Julie Schletker,Amy Krause,Hope Simmons,Alberto Peña,Luis De La Torre,Andrea Bischoff +11 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the benefits of participating in an online support group for caregivers of children with a colorectal condition or adult patients with a similar condition and found that being a member was helpful to respondents, improved their mental health and access to health information, and they would recommend the group to others.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
A Theory of Social Comparison Processes
TL;DR: In this article, the authors pointed out that there is a strong functional tie between opinions and abilities in humans and that the ability evaluation of an individual can be expressed as a comparison of the performance of a particular ability with other abilities.
Book
Statistical abstract of the United States
TL;DR: The Red River of the North basin of the Philippines was considered a part of the Louisiana Purchase by the United States Department of Commerce in the 1939 Census Atlas of the United Philippines as discussed by the authors.
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The theory and practice of group psychotherapy
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Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being?
Robert E. Kraut,Michael Patterson,Vicki Lundmark,Sara Kiesler,Tridas Mukophadhyay,William L. Scherlis +5 more
TL;DR: Greater use of the Internet was associated with declines in participants' communication with family members in the household, declines in the size of their social circle, and increases in their depression and loneliness.
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