Easton Katherine, Diggle Jacob, Ruethi-Davis Mabel, Holmes Megan, Byron-Parker Darian, Nuttall Jessica, Blackmore Chris
Centre of Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Mind, London, United Kingdom.
JMIR Ment Health. 2017 Oct 30;4(4):e49. doi: 10.2196/mental.8168.
Online peer support networks are a growing area of mental health support for offering social connection, identity, and support. However, it has been reported that not all individuals have a positive experience on such networks. The potential for adverse events within a moderated online peer support network is a new area of research exploration.
The objective of the study was to determine if use of an online moderated peer networks leads to adverse events for users.
Four biannual online surveys (October 2014 to March 2016) were conducted by a large national UK mental health charity, with users of their online peer support network exploring personal safety, moderation, experiences on the site, and how the site could be improved. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis by 2 independent researchers using a priori themes: negative experiences of moderation, social exclusion, contagion, negative interactions with other users, online relationships, co-rumination and collusion, and other.
In total, 2353 survey responses were logged with 197 (8.37%) documenting an adverse event of negative experience. A dominant theme of negative experiences of moderation emerged (73/197, 37.1%) with evidence of social exclusion (50/197, 25.4%). Reading user posts was shown to be a cause of worry and distress for a few users, and analysis highlighted several instances of depressogenic and emotional contagion as well as some limited evidence of behavioral contagion (46/197, 23.4%). Very limited evidence of co-rumination (1/197, 0.5%) and no evidence of collusion were identified.
Evidence of adverse events was identified at low levels in the sample of respondents, although we have no comparison data to indicate if levels are low compared with comparable platforms. Not all users of online peer support networks find them wholly beneficial. Research must explore what works for whom. The next stage of service development should consider which users may be likely to receive no benefit, or even deteriorate, as a result of using the service.
在线同伴支持网络作为提供社交联系、身份认同和支持的途径，在心理健康支持领域正不断发展。然而，据报道并非所有个体在这类网络上都有积极体验。在经过管理的在线同伴支持网络中发生不良事件的可能性是一个新的研究探索领域。
本研究的目的是确定使用经过管理的在线同伴网络是否会给用户带来不良事件。
英国一家大型全国性心理健康慈善机构开展了四次半年期在线调查（2014年10月至2016年3月），其在线同伴支持网络的用户参与调查，探讨个人安全、管理、在该网站的体验以及网站如何改进。两名独立研究人员使用先验主题，即管理的负面体验、社会排斥、传染、与其他用户的负面互动、在线关系、共同反刍和勾结以及其他，通过主题分析对数据进行了分析。
总共记录了2353份调查回复，其中197份（8.37%）记录了负面体验的不良事件。出现了管理负面体验的主导主题（73/197，37.1%），并有社会排斥的证据（50/197，25.4%）。阅读用户帖子被证明会让一些用户感到担忧和困扰，分析突出了几例抑郁源性和情绪传染的情况以及一些有限的行为传染证据（46/197，23.4%）。发现了非常有限的共同反刍证据（1/197，0.5%），未发现勾结证据。
在受访者样本中发现了低水平的不良事件证据，尽管我们没有比较数据来表明与类似平台相比这些水平是否较低。并非所有在线同伴支持网络的用户都认为它们完全有益。研究必须探索什么对谁有效。服务发展的下一阶段应考虑哪些用户可能因使用该服务而得不到任何益处，甚至情况恶化。
