The different faces of online support
A thematic analysis of responses to help-seeking related to depression and suicidal ideation in public online forums
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19537810 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jonas Bjärehed (0000-0002-2128-6031, Lund University), Hannes Grönberg (Lund University), Erik Jarlvik (Lund University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Publication date | 2023-11-16 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1802-7962 • E-ISSN: 1802-7962 |
| Publisher | Masaryk University Press (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.5817/cp2023-5-5 |
| OpenAlex | W4388832546 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 56 |
Help-seeking related to depression and suicidal ideations is frequent in internet forums. Forum threads concerning these topics often receive much interest through active replies but are also read by numerous passive users. Previous research indicates that such interactions may be helpful for the help-seeker, even if the underlying mechanisms are less clear. Meanwhile, some studies also suggest that online forum interactions can be less helpful or have a negative impact on the help-seeker. This study examines how online help-seeking is responded to through a qualitative thematic analysis of 72 discussion threads comprising 1,475 posts. We identify six themes that characterize different types of responses: Giving Tips, Teaching, Coaching, Consoling, Sharing One’s Own Experiences, and Bullying. These response types represent different strategies in their attempts to provide help, but sometimes also appear less helpful or even malicious. The responses are heterogeneous and often contradictory, with very different tones, spanning over varied suggestions and topics, leaving the help-seeker to interpret and make sense of the messages
Coaching · Help-seeking · Ideation · Internet privacy · Mental health · Online discussion · Online forum · Poison control · Psychotherapist · Qualitative analysis · Qualitative research · Sociology · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Thematic analysis · World Wide Web · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Medicine · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology
Health related virtual communities and electronic support groups
Health information seeking in the digital age
A review of the literature on peer support in mental health services
Communication of Social Support in Computer-Mediated Groups for People With Disabilities
The Power of the Web
Social support and protection from depression
Controllability of Stressful Events and Satisfaction With Spouse Support Behaviors
Suicide and suicide risk
Understanding the Links Between Social Support and Physical Health
An analysis of social support exchanges in online HIV/Aids self-help groups
Thematic Analysis
Effects of anonymity, invisibility, and lack of eye-contact on toxic online disinhibition
The benign online disinhibition effect
Communicating Social Support in Computer-mediated Contexts
Spaces for support
Skilled Support Within Intimate Relationships
Men’s depression talk online
Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities
Soliciting and Providing Social Support Over the Internet
Suicidal and Online
Distinctions between social support concepts, measures, and models
The Online Disinhibition Effect
Assessing coping strategies
Internet peer support for individuals with psychiatric disabilities
Producing, ratifying, and resisting support in an online support forum
Mechanisms Linking Social Ties and Support to Physical and Mental Health
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.5 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |