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From knowledge to hope: online depression communities

  • Galit Nimrod EMAIL logo
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 1. März 2012
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International Journal on Disability and Human Development
Aus der Zeitschrift Band 11 Heft 1

Abstract

The cybernetic revolution changed the way individuals suffering from depression look for and receive help. Many have begun turning towards online communities for help in understanding and dealing with symptoms. This article aims to examine the contents and characteristics of the discussions on depression in dedicated online communities and to explore the potential benefits these communities offer people with depression. For that purpose, quantitative content analysis of a full year’s data from 25 leading online communities was performed, using a novel computerized system, the Forum Monitoring System. The overall database included 149,216 messages. Results indicated that there was an increase in the daily activity level during the winter. Content analysis identified nine main subjects discussed in the communities, including (in descending order) ‘symptoms’, ‘relationships’, ‘coping’, ‘life’, ‘formal care’, ‘medications’, ‘causes’, ‘suicide’, and ‘work’. The overall tone was rather balanced. Findings indicated that online depression communities serve as a sphere for knowledge exchange, sharing the experience of living with depression, and getting inspiration for coping. Involvement in these communities seems to inspire and empower participants by enhancing better understanding of their condition and by encouraging them to fight depression. Therefore, it is suggested that the communities can complement formal care. Participating in these communities could be regarded as a coping technique, and more fragile depressed people should be encouraged to visit them and participate.

Keywords: computer-mediated communication; content analysis; depression; support groups
Corresponding author: Galit Nimrod, PhD, The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Communication Studies and The Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, 84015 Beer-Sheva, Israel Phone: +972-8-6479734, Fax: +972-8-6472920
Received: 2010-9-16
Accepted: 2010-10-31
Published Online: 2012-03-01
Published in Print: 2012-03-01

©2012 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/ijdhd.2012.009
Schlagwörter für diesen Artikel
computer-mediated communication; content analysis; depression; support groups

Artikel in diesem Heft

  1. Editorial
  2. Disability research in China: gaps and future directions
  3. Review
  4. The use of clozapine for the treatment of schizophrenia and implications for suicide prevention
  5. Original Articles
  6. Identification of factors that influence the quality of life of adolescent cancer survivors
  7. Nutritional status of children with an intellectual disability
  8. From knowledge to hope: online depression communities
  9. A screening battery for the assessment of executive functioning in young and adult individuals with intellectual disability
  10. Spatial and temporal statistical analysis on the Chinese handicapped population
  11. Coping with learning disabilities in academic institutions: experience from Israel
  12. A longitudinal study of institutional downsizing and challenging behaviors among adults with intellectual disability
  13. Perceived parent-child relational qualities and parental control in Chinese adolescents in Shanghai
  14. Conceptual and measurement model for daily life activity
  15. National survey 2009 on medical services for persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel
  16. Case Reports
  17. Pathological collecting: a case report
  18. Septo-optic dysplasia: clinical spectrum
  19. Masthead
  20. Masthead
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