Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30912760›Full record

ReviewJMIR mental health2019

Social Connection and Online Engagement: Insights From Interviews With Users of a Mental Health Online Forum.

Jennifer Smith-Merry, Gerard Goggin, Andrew Campbell, Kirsty McKenzie, Brad Ridout, Cherry Baylosis

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in JMIR mental health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 57 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
57citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

57 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jennifer Smith-MerryCentre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6705-2652
Gerard GogginDepartment of Media and Communications, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2954-5309
Andrew CampbellCyberpsychology Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2217-2589
Kirsty McKenzieCentre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0828-5958
Brad RidoutCyberpsychology Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8067-0490
Cherry BaylosisDepartment of Media and Communications, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4673-4766

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOver the past 2 decades, online forums for mental health support have emerged as an important tool for improving mental health and well-being. There has been important research that analyzes the content of forum posts, studies on how and why individuals engage with forums, and how extensively forums are used. However, we still lack insights into key questions on how they are experienced from the perspective of their users, especially those in rural and remote settings.

objectiveThe aim of our study was to investigate the dynamics, benefits, and challenges of a generalized peer-to-peer mental health online forum from a user perspective; in particular, to better explore and understand user perspectives on connection, engagement, and support offered in such forums; information and advice they gained; and what issues they encountered. We studied experiences of the forums from the perspective of both people with lived experience of mental illness and people who care for people with mental illness.

methodsTo understand the experience of forum users, we devised a qualitative study utilizing semistructured interviews with 17 participants (12 women and 5 men). Data were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was undertaken.

resultsThe study identified 3 key themes: participants experienced considerable social and geographical isolation, which the forums helped to address; participants sought out the forums to find a social connection that was lacking in their everyday lives; and participants used the forums to both find and provide information and practical advice.

conclusionsThe study suggests that online peer support provides a critical, ongoing role in providing social connection for people with a lived experience of mental ill-health and their carers, especially for those living in rural and remote areas. Forums may offer a way for individuals to develop their own understanding of recovery through reflecting on the recovery experiences and peer support shown by others and individuals enacting peer support themselves. Key to the success of this online forum was the availability of appropriate moderation, professional support, and advice.

Indexed as

internetmental disordersmental healthmental health recoveryqualitative researchself-help groupssocial stigma

Identifiers

PMID30912760
PMCPMC6454344

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.