TY - JOUR
T1 - Communication of social support in computer-mediated groups for people with disabilities
AU - Braithwaite, Dawn O.
AU - Waldron, Vincent R.
AU - Finn, Jerry
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - This study documented the types and extent of social support messages exchanged by persons with disabilities who participated in a computer-based support group. A modified version of Cutrona & Suhr's (1992) social support category system was used to code 1,472 support messages. The largest percentage of these messages offered emotional and informational support, whereas network support and tangible assistance were least frequently offered. It appeared that many of the support messages directly redressed limitations and challenges associated with disability-related mobility, socialization, and self-care. Results are discussed in terms of the generalizability of existing category systems for coding support to this mediated context, the relative importance of different types of support in the communication of support group members, and the unique features of social support in mediated environments. The implications of this study for social support researchers, persons with disabilities, and human services professionals are also discussed.
AB - This study documented the types and extent of social support messages exchanged by persons with disabilities who participated in a computer-based support group. A modified version of Cutrona & Suhr's (1992) social support category system was used to code 1,472 support messages. The largest percentage of these messages offered emotional and informational support, whereas network support and tangible assistance were least frequently offered. It appeared that many of the support messages directly redressed limitations and challenges associated with disability-related mobility, socialization, and self-care. Results are discussed in terms of the generalizability of existing category systems for coding support to this mediated context, the relative importance of different types of support in the communication of support group members, and the unique features of social support in mediated environments. The implications of this study for social support researchers, persons with disabilities, and human services professionals are also discussed.
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U2 - 10.1207/s15327027hc1102_2
DO - 10.1207/s15327027hc1102_2
M3 - Article
C2 - 16370973
AN - SCOPUS:0000877054
SN - 1041-0236
VL - 11
SP - 123
EP - 151
JO - Health Communication
JF - Health Communication
IS - 2
ER -