Online support groups are expanding as the general public becomes more comfortable
using computer-mediated communication technology. These support groups have certain …

This article reviews literature on online support groups/communities for individuals facing
health concerns. Specifically, the article focuses on predictors of online support …

This literature review of research on health-related computer-mediated support groups links
features of these groups to existing theory from the areas of social support and computer …

An increasing number of online support groups (OSGs) have embraced the features of
social networking. So far, little is known about how patients use and benefit from these …

The purpose of the current study was to identify potential factors leading to preference for
social interaction in online support groups (OSGs) over offline interaction. By identifying …

OBJECTIVE: The current research investigates the potential of online support groups
(OSGs) to foster empowerment and how membership might affect the patient/health …

The aim of this study was to examine the views of moderators across a diverse and
geographically broad range of online support groups about their moderator experiences and …

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has contended that the unique characteristics of the Internet
might remove some of the gender differences that exist in face-to-face healthcare. The aims …

What are the antecedents to the usage of online health-based support groups? This article
draws on the motivation literature to posit the role of disposition-specific and situation …

In an era of diminishing health care resources, the number of online support groups is
increasing. These groups consist of individuals seeking assistance with problems such as …