Department of Advertising and Public Relations, College of Communication, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2012 Oct;15(10):555-9. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2012.0138. Epub 2012 Sep 12.
The increased usage of online cancer support groups as a resource for health-related information and social support has sparked numerous discussions about the role of online support in healthcare. However, little is known about the role of social-networking groups focused on supporting adolescents and young adults (AYAs) dealing with cancer. The current investigation report findings from a content analysis designed to explore how AYAs use an online support group to meet their psychosocial needs. Overall, members of the community focused on exchanging emotional and informational support, coping with difficult emotions through expression, describing experiences of being an AYA dealing with cancer through language (metaphors), enacting identity through evaluations of the new normal (life with and after cancer), and communicating membership as an AYA with cancer. This study highlights the unique needs of the AYA cancer community and offers a preliminary roadmap for practitioners, and network members, such as family and friends, to attempt to meet the needs of this unique community.
随着在线癌症支持团体作为获取健康相关信息和社会支持资源的使用增加，人们对在线支持在医疗保健中的作用展开了大量讨论。然而，人们对专注于支持青少年和年轻人（AYA）应对癌症的社交网络团体的作用知之甚少。目前的调查研究报告从内容分析中得出结果，旨在探讨 AYA 如何使用在线支持团体来满足他们的心理社会需求。总体而言，该社区的成员主要关注于交流情感和信息支持，通过表达来应对困难情绪，通过语言（隐喻）描述作为 AYA 应对癌症的经历，通过评估新的常态（癌症前后的生活）来塑造身份，并将自己作为 AYA 癌症患者的身份进行交流。本研究强调了 AYA 癌症社区的独特需求，并为从业者以及网络成员（如家人和朋友）提供了初步的路线图，以尝试满足这个独特社区的需求。
